Meeting Notice Reminder - February March 18, 2026

 Change of Venue!

• Location: 3927 75th Street, Kenosha, WI  53142
• Time: 18:00 through 20:00
• Water and soft drinks on us!

See you there.  RSVP please.  I need to reserve your seat.

Kenneth (Ken) Butterly, Founder

Trim - Flying's Unsung Hero - Part Two

I thought it might be interesting to take a look at trim for pitch (trim) as it’s currently being taught. My suspicion is that there are probably as many ways to teach the subject as there are CFI's. 

Out of curiosity, I took some time reviewing a couple dozen YouTube videos and came away with the impression that most trim techniques/strategies are somewhere between brute force and finesse.  I prefer the latter myself.

To illustrate my point, I’ve selected the next two videos.

How to Trim an Airplane

More videos like this No BS Flight Training 

Day 22: Using Aircraft Trim Techniques: Tips to Help You

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Both videos provided the same info: 

Pilot sets pitch → aircraft seeks new airspeed → trim removes pressure.  

But can this skill be taught using YouTube/MSFS2020/2024?

How to trim a plane | The poor man's autopilot | Microsoft Flight Simulator

More videos like this Digital Aviator

Simple answer - yes!

Since pitch sets speed, without the ability to change pitch, might the aircraft's forward speed be limited?

That hypothesis will be the subject of part three.

Your thoughts?

Kenneth (Ken) Butterly, Founder

The Incredible Lockheed Constellation - Queen of The Skies

As propeller airliners go, the Lockheed Constellation is a piece of art.

With its distinctive triple tail and graceful, dolphin-shaped fuselage, the Connie remains one of the most beautiful airliners ever built. Designed by Lockheed and flown by Trans World Airlines (TWA), it helped usher in the modern era of long-distance airline travel.

On February 5, 1946, TWA launched its first trans-Atlantic service with the Constellation, linking North America and Europe in ways that would soon become routine for commercial aviation. The aircraft’s pressurized cabin, speed, and long range represented a major step forward in passenger comfort and capability. 

This INCREDIBLE Aircraft Changed Everything

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Building the Super Constellation, Lockheed Burbank film - 1955

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The Aircraft NOBODY Knew about! Lockheed Constellation

More videos like this Mentour Now!

MSFS Red Wing Super Constellation Tutorial Startup Auto Pilot Full Flight VOR ILS

More videos like this Sprocket Simulations 

During the COVID lockdowns, I decided to recreate one of those early Atlantic crossings in P3D. Over three evenings I “flew” from Chicago to London, following the classic North Atlantic stepping-stone route:

Chicago → New York → Gander → Reykjavík → Shannon → London

The real Connie had the range to complete the trip in a single stop under the right conditions.

I, on the other hand, didn’t! 

Flying the route in stages gave me a real appreciation for the rhythm of piston-airliner flying—careful planning, steady engine management, and navigation that demanded attention and patience.

The good news for simulator pilots is that the Constellation is alive and well in the virtual world. Versions of the aircraft are available in Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Lockheed Martin Prepar3D, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and X-Plane 11 / X-Plane 12.

The first TWA Atlantic crossing in the Connie happened nearly 80 years ago.  If you’re a flight simmer, you don’t have wait another 80 to try it yourself.

Your thoughts?

Kenneth (Ken) Butterly, Founder

Trim - Flying's Unsung Hero!

I fly by the numbers.

Been flying this way—whether in an airplane or a simulator—since 1968. One reason I’ve been able to do so consistently is that I consciously use an elevator trim/throttle technique (that works for me) as a core tool in my “flight bag.”

I titled this post “Trim — Flying’s Unsung Hero” because the little device doesn't get the attention it deserves and without the proper use of elevator trim, flying as we know it simply wouldn’t exist.

So, let me present two videos to open the discussion. The intent is to show how focused and intentional use of this tool, combined with flying by the numbers, can make your flying both safer and more enjoyable.

Flying By the Numbers Demonstration

Descend and Decelerate

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Suggestion: Next time you get on the simulator (home or flight school) why not give this Bonanza Guys ideas a try!

Note: This post is the beginning of a series. 

Your thought?

Kenneth (Ken) Butterly