4:15 PM -
5:00 PM
Engine-Out Glide Performance
Room 2
Power-off glide performance is critical for successfully responding to an engine failure in flight. Learn how to extract the maximum glide performance from your airplane.
Collin McDonald has been an avid pilot, mechanic, flight instructor, and aircraft owner for over a decade. He has operated as an instructor or manager in various flight schools in Middle Tennessee, helping to develop the curricula for Private, Instrument, and Tailwheel courses.
In 2017, he and his wife relocated to Papua New Guinea, where he served as a pilot with an Aviation Missionary organization, providing logistical assistance in medical emergencies and routine cargo hauling. In 2022, he completed his master’s degree in Aviation Safety & Security at Middle Tennessee State University. He has operated as an aircraft mechanic and Authorized Inspector (IA) with the MTSU Flight School Fleet.
He served as a Teaching Assistant in undergraduate Part 147 Mechanic School and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Pro-Pilot Program at MTSU. He actively conducts research in aviation education, human factors, and a variety of other areas through both interdisciplinary collaboration and individual research projects.
Outside the classroom, McDonald serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Motlow Aviation Program, a volunteer pilot with the Flagship Detroit Foundation’s DC-3, and a mentor for local high school students seeking aviation careers. He showcases his aviation experiences through social media under his handle “The Flying Mechanic.”