Articles

Weekend Pilot by Gunawan Phillip is an independent blog with guides, tips and explainers about flight simulators, hobby drones and radio-controlled model airplanes.

Game-style home desk with a monitor showing a small plane over a coastline Basics3 min read Choosing your first flight sim setup A practical beginner guide to building a first flight simulator setup: using what you own, picking a sim style and adding controls step by step. Read more Stylized cockpit close-up with a control yoke and rudder pedals Guides3 min read Joysticks, yokes and pedals explained Understand flight sim controls: joysticks versus yokes, rudder pedals, throttle quadrants, calibration and dead zones, explained for hobbyists. Read more Top-down game view of a small airplane circling a rural airfield Guides3 min read Flying your first traffic pattern in a sim Learn the legs of a standard airport traffic pattern and how to practice it in a flight simulator, with common beginner mistakes and drills. Read more Stylized quadcopter drone hovering over a sunny meadow Basics3 min read Drone basics for weekend pilots An introduction to hobby drones: common types, flight modes, simulator practice, airspace rules and how to plan your first outdoor flights. Read more Game-style FPV drone diving through a sunset canyon Tips3 min read An FPV simulator practice routine Build a structured FPV drone simulator routine: camera angle, rates, repeatable drills and simple ways to track progress before flying outdoors. Read more Stylized yellow model airplane gliding over a grass field at sunset Basics3 min read First steps with RC model airplanes A beginner overview of radio-controlled model airplanes: trainer aircraft, battery care, simulator practice, flying sites and simple repairs. Read more Game-style small airplane flying between clouds over a mountain valley Explainers3 min read Weather and navigation in flight sims How wind, clouds and visibility affect flying in simulators, plus basic navigation methods like pilotage, dead reckoning and radio aids. Read more Stylized game scene contrasting a virtual cockpit with a model airplane outdoors Opinion3 min read What simulators teach and what they don't An opinion piece on what flight, drone and RC simulators teach well, where they fall short and how hobbyists can keep a balanced view. Read more Game-style backyard workshop with a drone and a model airplane on a table Tips3 min read Planning a weekend pilot routine Practical tips for planning hobby time around flight sims, drones and model airplanes, with a sample weekend plan, gear care and a simple logbook. Read more