Behind the Prop

How better to learn than by studying other people's mistakes?  Bobby and Wally lay out some common student pilot mistakes, how and why they happen, and most importantly how you can avoid them yoursel…

There are many misconceptions about the differences between Part 61 & Part 141 flight schools.  Is one better?  Does one save you money over the other?  Who better to ask than a flight school owner a…

What do most pilots do wrong?  How often should you change the oil?  If you could only check ONE system during a preflight, what would you check?  Our fascinating guest, mechanic/pilot Ray Villalba o…

Whether you're a student entering that exciting next phase of training, a new private pilot looking to head out and explore, or a seasoned pilot who has done it for years... the guys share some great…

You're cruising along enjoying your flight... when all of the sudden you notice the low voltage light on the panel is flashing.  You glance over to the amps gauge and sure enough, it's showing a disc…

Wally has been a DPE for years, and it's safe to say he's seen almost everything!  This episode includes some great pointers for checkride preparation, as well as some things NOT to do.  If you come …

Learning radio communications is an essential part of learning to fly... but it can be really scary at first!  You're sharing the frequency with many experienced pilots and controllers, and here you …

Women make up 50% of the population... but only account for about 6% of pilots in the United States.  Jessica is on a mission to raise that number!  To learn more about the Houston Chapter of Women i…

Night time can be confusing for pilots, but hopefully we help each pilot with some regulations and a few tips.  This week Bobby and Wally break down what constitutes night time, when you can log nigh…

Primary and Secondary Flight Controls.  Hopefully, you use all of them on every flight.  Hopefully, you check them before every flight.  Today, Bobby and Wally go into detail on what you should be ch…

Happy Holidays!!  This week Behind the Prop shares their top 10 or so gift ideas for the pilot in your life (whether that is you or someone you shared this podcast with).   We cover a lot of products…

We have been asked a number of times to put together a show on how to best tackle the economics of flight training.  There are MANY opinions here and hopefully, we share a number of ideas that will h…

Devin Miller has been flying for the past three years and has come a long way.  He literally walked in one Sunday afternoon and wanted to fly.  We took him up and he has been a great friend, partner,…

This week Bobby and Wally discuss a system for the first time and believe it will be the first of many.  Each time we fly we do a magneto check and as Wally says, he hopes we change the name to an ig…

In the mid-80s it was a decision my parents and the wrestle with, paper vs plastic as they checked out at the grocery store.  Now as pilots many of us have quickly moved from the paper choice to an e…

Pat Brown has a long history in aviation and not only serves the "Texas Triangle" as the AOPA You Can Fly Ambassador, and he is also a Designated Pilot Examiner.  Pat and Wally have a long past and d…

This week Bobby tells his near-miss story.  While these are more common than they should be some are closer than others!   We won't give it away here, but Bobby comes VERY CLOSE to the big one and sh…

Checklist usage sounds simple.  #1 - Use one.  #2 - Follow it.  It continues to be one thing that pilots don't do frequently enough and causes problems, both big and small.  Wally shares some things …

Bobby started his training to become a pilot in May of 2015.  He really only thought he would get his private pilot's license and fly for fun.  Like most pilots though, he quickly realized to be a be…