Maintenance

Aviators are not always the easiest people to buy gifts for, but our list, based on personal pilot experience, might help.

Just because you spent big on the latest digital comm transceiver doesn’t mean it will perform any better than the one it replaced. Antennas matter—a lot.

Operating out of unimproved runways takes a toll on a Cessna nosewheel, but upgrading the shimmy damper can help over the long term.

The typical stock nosewheel shimmy dampener does a decent job of taming minor oscillations, but the nosewheel on older airplanes (and Cessna singles in particular) eventually needs some care. When all other components are healthy, that often means replacing the shimmy damper (this is occasionally called a dampener), and two popular aftermarket upgrades come from […]

Savvy Aviation’s project to add borescope imagery to its database on cylinder condition has generated massive amounts of data and some interesting results.

Just because it isn’t leaking oil doesn’t mean it’s doing its job. Proactive cleaning or replacement is worth the effort and expense.

Don’t throw good money after bad on major repairs to aging autopilots—or pay full price for a used airplane with one that hasn’t been upgraded.

Prices are up on propeller overhauls and repair, but the good shops do a lot more than minimum standards and that can make them last longer.

We offer logical advice for chasing fluctuations in fuel pressure on a Lycoming IO-540 and a DIY process for making sure a Cessna flies true.

Troubleshoot first, but for an economical strobe install with ADS-B In as a bonus, we think the $750 uAvionix skySensor is a solid buy.

In many cases, more than the existing weight and balance report shows. When in doubt, roll it up on the scales.

A properly rigged landing gear and frequent close inspections are keys to safety and longevity. DIY compass swings save shop labor.