Practical Aeronautics

From a practical perspective, we teach introductory aeronautics and propulsion short courses to anyone working directly or indirectly in the field of aviation.

Show Students You Care

By Keith Boyer

 PAI Teaching Associate Dr Aaron Byerley often cites this quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” (Roosevelt’s original quote used “People” instead of Students).  That care, that innate desire for students to learn remain top priorities of PAI teaching.  When asked about what feedback they’d been hearing about our classes, a longstanding customer recently shared “…great teaching, approachable teachers with an obvious passion for what they do.”

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PAI Recommended Reading and Viewing List

By Practical Aeronautics Team

These recommended titles come from our owners and teaching associates who enjoyed the read/viewing.  Hope you enjoy some of them as well!

PAI does not receive any compensation for these recommendations – we simply like airplanes.

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The Power of a Piece of Paper

By Practical Aeronautics Team

A great read (written by our own Mark Jones Jr.) at the start of a new year…”we all get a chance to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and to launch our ideas into the world.”

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Bill Heiser Memoriam

By Keith Boyer

It is not circumstantial, and indeed entirely fitting, that I find myself writing another one of these for “Uncle Bill,” “Dr H,” William H. Heiser, after his passing on September 26, 2022…one year to the day when Jack Mattingly passed.  The two were great friends, the closest of friends, humanly and spiritually.  At the urging of Jack, who flew to Colorado Springs weeks before his own death to convince Bill to move to the Seattle area close to family, Bill moved into his new Seattle residence on the day of Jack’s passing. 

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Jack Mattingly Memoriam

By Keith Boyer

Colleague, mentor, role model, and friend to Practical Aero, and more importantly, countless others, Jack D. Mattingly passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Jack LOVED teaching and interacting with students. He was a master at challenging them to not only think, but to think at a systems-level by applying foundational principles from a practical perspective—an approach that’s at the heart of PAI’s mission.

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Why Take A Course with Practical Aero?

More than ever, today’s aircraft are complex systems requiring skilled professionals to combine their specific expertise into a fully integrated vehicle. The professionals who engineer, test, manufacture, and in any way support these aircraft are accomplished specialists, but often lack an overall understanding of the airplane system as a whole. Fundamental understanding of the airplane-engine system gives you improved ability to communicate more effectively and frame thinking beyond your area of expertise.

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