The Aviation Library
Over 100 published articles on the art, science, and joy of flying.
Welcome to the archive, a comprehensive and searchable digital portfolio of Dr. Mike Jones's published work. Over the years, Mike has contributed more than 100 articles to respected journals like Cessna Pilots Magazine, Professional Pilot Magazine, General Aviation News, and Mentor Magazine.
This collection serves as a centralized home for a lifetime of flying experiences. Covering everything from technical flight mechanics and detailed explanations of GPS technology to the economic impact of local runways and profiles of fascinating people in the aviation world, this archive offers insights for every aviation enthusiast. Use the search and filter tools below to explore a wide variety of topics.
Find Exactly What You Need
Use the filters below to browse by topic, date, or publication type. From academic findings to editorial pieces on airport mismanagement, the information you need is at your fingertips.
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History
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List of Services
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A Family Affair — Preserving Our Heritage of Grass Roots Flying Experience the Lake Ridge Aero Park fly-in celebrating family aviation traditions, taildraggers, and the heritage of grass roots flying.History A Family Affair — Preserving Our Heritage of Grass Roots Flying
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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Charlottesville It started off as a simple charity flight, but the wild ride home was one for the record books. And we're NOT talking about the weather.Adventures A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Charlottesville
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A Repeat Offender Gets Back Into the Sky Between the Bomb Squad and the FAA, J.P.’s story will curl your hair.Pilots & People A Repeat Offender Gets Back Into the Sky
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A Thunderbird Pilot Remembers His Cessna Roots Discover how Thunderbird pilot Ron Maness rose from rural farm life and a Cessna 172 to a remarkable aviation career.Pilots & People A Thunderbird Pilot Remembers His Cessna Roots
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Aircraft Insurance: After the Upgrades How aircraft upgrades affect insurance value, avionics investment, and ownership costs through one pilot’s unforgettable hangar conversation.Plane Ownership Aircraft Insurance: After the Upgrades
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An Eye-Opening Day: Flying ATC Controllers 27 pilots fly new ATC controllers at Goldsboro’s Wayne Executive Jetport, giving hands-on cockpit experience in the “Fly the Controllers” program.Pilots & People An Eye-Opening Day: Flying ATC Controllers
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Better Data Makes Better Airports How data-driven sensor systems and analytics are transforming airport operations, improving accuracy, safety, and efficiency in modern aviation.Airports & Stewardship Better Data Makes Better Airports
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Changing Plans: The Prudent Pilot’s Plan B Discover why every prudent pilot needs a reliable Plan B for safer flying, weather changes, and smarter in-flight decision-making.Flying with Purpose Changing Plans: The Prudent Pilot’s Plan B
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Digital Control Towers Could Boost Aviation Safety Traditional air traffic control towers are expensive white elephants costing $100,000 per square foot. There's a better way, and it’s a lot cheaper too.Technology Digital Control Towers Could Boost Aviation Safety
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Flying Home: the Great Q-Route Mystery The flight from Punta Gorda to Southern Pines was a piece of cake, until ATC assigned a "Q-Route"Flying Skills Flying Home: the Great Q-Route Mystery
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Flying the Red Knob, Part 2 David Bunin is no average pilot, and when he wrote an email explaining that I could not fly at 84% on 14 gallons/hour, I had to listen.Flying Skills Flying the Red Knob, Part 2
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Flying the Red Knob: Finding My Way Through the “Lean of Peak” Wilderness With a brand-new engine, I wanted to fly lean-of-peak. But there’s so much contradictory info out there I was scared to try. Here’s what I foundFlying Skills Flying the Red Knob: Finding My Way Through the “Lean of Peak” Wilderness
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Going Big: N7591N My Cessna T210 A personal story of buying and flying a Cessna T210 Centurion — the costs, the problems, the performance, the surprises, and the joysPlane Ownership Going Big: N7591N My Cessna T210
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It’s Time to Get Back to Giving Back Young Eagles events are a favorite reason to fly. Yes, it’s just a quick trip, but it can be an introduction to life lessons that will last a lifetime.Flying with Purpose It’s Time to Get Back to Giving Back
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Old ’91N Takes the Long Way Home from Oshkosh A renovated N7591N heads to Oshkosh AirVenture with friends for a birthday flight, where plans shift and aviation lessons unfold in the skies.Adventures Old ’91N Takes the Long Way Home from Oshkosh
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Problems in Paradise from Lazy Flight Training Several friends recently started flight lessons, and they tell me they are worried about the quality of their training. Here’s a look at causes and remedies.Flying Skills Problems in Paradise from Lazy Flight Training
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Range Anxiety and Summer Storms Explore how electric vehicle range anxiety compares to aviation fuel planning and summer storm flying challenges.Plane Ownership Range Anxiety and Summer Storms
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Returning the Honor —The Veterans Airlift Command Winter flying is magical but a big problem is finding someplace to go. The Veterans Airlift Command is a great reason to drag your bird out of the hangar.Flying with Purpose Returning the Honor —The Veterans Airlift Command
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Reverse Your Alternate for More Flexible Flying Learn how strategic alternate flight planning improves IFR flexibility, safety, and efficiency during demanding single-pilot flying trips.Flying Skills Reverse Your Alternate for More Flexible Flying
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Rick Giles and His Genial Beast Capt. Rick Giles has been flying the same burly Cessna C180 taildragger, N180MW, for nearly seventy yearsPilots & People Rick Giles and His Genial Beast
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Sargeant Adam Kisielewski and His DA42 Some pilots have to work harder than others to perfect their flying skills, but Sargeant Adam Kisielewski defeated more obstacles than most.Pilots & People Sargeant Adam Kisielewski and His DA42
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Some Like It Hot (But Not on a Runway) A rookie pilot’s dangerous mountain flying experience in a Cessna 172 reveals critical lessons about runway heat and high-altitude flying.Flying Skills Some Like It Hot (But Not on a Runway)
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Southern Hospitality Shines at the South Carolina Breakfast Club Discover the history of the South Carolina Breakfast Club, where pilots have gathered for Sunday fly-ins and aviation fellowship since 1938.Destinations Southern Hospitality Shines at the South Carolina Breakfast Club
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Sun-n-Fun 2022: Cold, Soggy, but Fun A look inside Sun-n-Fun 2022 featuring packed crowds, airshows, the B-29 Doc, and unforgettable aviation moments despite bad weather.Adventures Sun-n-Fun 2022: Cold, Soggy, but Fun
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The Best G.A.-Friendly Aviation Museums Explore 20 GA-friendly aviation museums near airports across the U.S., perfect fly-in stops for pilots seeking new destinations.Destinations The Best G.A.-Friendly Aviation Museums
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Three Loves and Steamed Oysters: Joe Cook’s New Year’s Hangar Party Experience Joe Cook’s annual aviation hangar party at Pageland Airport, featuring oysters, fly-ins, friendship, and classic pilot stories.Pilots & People Three Loves and Steamed Oysters: Joe Cook’s New Year’s Hangar Party
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Stuff Happens, So Play with Your Plane Juvenile animals play at fighting, stalking, and pouncing — skills they use as adults. This is “physical literacy” and would be useful in Jonesy’s logbook.Flying Skills Stuff Happens, So Play with Your Plane
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Sentimental Journey Revisited Sentimental Journey is an old-style fly-in at Lock Haven. But the folks grew older and the show withered. In 2025 a new team arrived — can they save it?Airports & Stewardship Sentimental Journey Revisited
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Small Airports Can Be Big Business Pilots need airports but many G.A. airports are on the endangered-species list. We need to take action to protect, preserve, and promote our airports.Airports & Stewardship Small Airports Can Be Big Business
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David vs Goliath: An Adventure of Two Airshows I visited both the biggest and the smallest airshows in Florida for a side-by-side comparison. It’s a tough call to say which is more fun.Adventures David vs Goliath: An Adventure of Two Airshows
