Written in June, 2019 I’ve often said that Steve Oliver is the smartest aviator I know. Perhaps that’s why when Steve mentioned the most memorable flight he’d…
"...Why do you suppose that Acme Grads land the way they do? They make high, wide downwinds, then keep the power in and the flaps down while they fly a huge pattern that ends at some point on the runway. "
"I remember one such time when a friend and I were offered a chance to ride in the Catalina that was part of the Erickson Aircraft collection. We sat in the voluminous back of the plane as Brent Conner rumbled the old ship down to the approach end of the runway. He did the runup and one mag on one engine dropped a lot. Brent decided that some work needed to be done and it wasn’t worth departing with that bad mag. So we never flew, but it was Air Awareness time. And it was worth something to us all."
I’ve got some questions: Howcum most CFIs think that bank angle affects stall speed? Howcum most pilots never fly behind an accelerometer unless they are flying an aerobatic airplane. And,…
"He was carrying power, even though he was too high. But we’re used to seeing that. After all, that’s how Acme trains. As he approached short final, we called to THAT unhearing pilot, “Go around, go around!”
"A treatise about this subject wouldn’t be complete without an argument from the other side. The reason given for shoeless flight is usually the same. The shoeless fliers claim that their feet are then more sensitive to rudder pedals and brake. Although they may be right, I don’t think they are right enough to cancel the lack of safety. So I usually say to them, “Get over it”.
Larry Lansburgh A few hours of stick time in a glider can give you a deeper knowledge of the environment in which you fly—knowledge that many airplane…
"You would be amazed at how many rated pilots have NEVER landed on dirt or grass."
“Coast Guard Air Station, San Fran, this is Helo one three eight six. Mayday, mayday, mayday. We’ve had a bird strike. The pilot is unconscious."
" I’m not always correct, but I do find that I’m often pushing when my students are pulling. "
