AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 101

of landing, fueling, and then taking off for a
7-minute flight to our destination. It didn't
seem like things were quite that dire, so I
soldiered on, although I kept a beady eye on
BVU as it passed by on our left.
Almost there. I checked in with
Henderson Tower and got my instruction to
enter a long left base for 17 Right. Coming
up to the turn from base to final, we were
still uncomfortably distant from the numbers. I had not informed tower of our fuel
situation, which still did not seem to qualify
as an emergency. As I entered the bank for
final, the Lycoming coughed and sputtered,
a sound I had never heard in any plane while
airborne-and hope to never hear again. The
engine stuttered through the turn, then as I
leveled out for final it came back to life. A
minute later we were squeaking the tires
onto pavement and taxiing for the FBO and a
long drink of 100LL. August and I exchanged
relieved looks and I admitted that I had obviously cut it too close.
When we finally refueled, the airplane
took on nearly 70 gallons to our usual fill
level. Lessons learned: 1. Bottom of the necks
is less than 75 gallons of usable-dipsticks are
sketchy. 2. Top off for a long flight. I could
have put another 45 minutes' worth in those
tanks when we departed, with no worries
about weight. 3. Headwinds and off-course
diversions can add up to more fuel use than
you think. 4. Banking the airplane can starve
the engine when things are getting bony. 5.
Better to spend an extra half-hour for a fuel
stop than run dry, even if it's spitting distance
from your final destination. 6. Apply caution
in inverse proportion to the accuracy of your
fuel measurement devices.
Ten years and 300 flying hours later, I
applied these lessons on a routine flight from
Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo, our new
home, in a Mooney M20K, our new ride. This
time it was high fuel prices in Burbank and a
25-knot headwind that had me running low.
Cruising along at 6,500 feet, I did not desire
an intermediate stop, especially with gusty
crosswinds at Santa Ynez below me. But that
little voice told me to cut the power, put it
down, and fill it up, which is what I did. So
should you.
AOPA
DAVE HOUGHTON is an instrument-rated com-

mercial pilot living in California.

aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 101

APPLY NOW AT AOPA.ORG/FINANCEMYTRAINING

Putting off your PILOT'S LICENSE or

INSTRUMENT RATING?

Craving a SEAPLANE RATING?
Still paying for ONE LESSON AT A TIME?

APPLY NOW FOR AOPA'S
FLEXIBLE AVIATION LOAN
DO YOU WANT QUICK & EASY?

Fill out a quick online application and be approved in one business day.

DO YOU WANT AFFORDABLE?
A $10,000 flight training loan with monthly payments as low as $250
a month. AOPA Member rates starting at WSJ Prime +5%.

DO YOU WANT FLEXIBILITY?
You can borrow as much as 3x your monthly income (up to a
max of $100k).

Go to

aopa.org/financemytraining
to apply today.

AOPA's Flexible Aviation Loan can be put
to work right now to get you on your way as
a better trained, more proficient pilot.


http://www.AOPA.ORG/FINANCEMYTRAINING http://www.aopa.org/financemytraining http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - BB1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - BB2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com