Comments on: Flying Lessons

By: Wilko

Wilko — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:25:26 +0000

Any time in the air with your kids is like gold, regardless of how well the lessons are imparted and I’m sure you’re better at it then me. I’ve enjoyed it in poor conditions as well since it was not only a learning experience but something to spark conversation later on (Dad do you remember when you pranged theplane on the crosswind landing…).
SNO is a lucky guy to have you looking out for him.

By: Oldschool

Oldschool — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:09:34 +0000

First solo … not apparent that even 20 hours is adequate.

NTSB Identification: CEN09LA168
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, February 14, 2009 in Tulsa, OK…
piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage …Riverside Airport (RVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma. … … The student pilot on board the airplane was not injured. …this was the student pilot’s first solo flight and her instructor observed from a distance. The pilot made a landing approach to runway 01R and flared prematurely. The airplane landed hard and bounced. The student pushed the nose down and the airplane struck the runway, collapsing the nose gear.

By: RonF

RonF — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:52:49 +0000

I taught my wife to drive stick. I suppose I was a bit impatient at times. The final exam was when I drove up a hill with about a 30 degree grade with a stop sign just shy of the summit. As someone pulled up behind us put the car in neutral, set the emergency brake, got out and told her “Your turn. Get in the driver’s seat and let’s go.”

Didn’t stall it. Didn’t roll back into the guy behind us.

By: STEVEC

STEVEC — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:05:14 +0000

Well, he did come back: 7 times for night traps…and he didn’t leave until the war was over, either. In my book, he kept the faith. Completely.
My post was about that inner ‘other voice’ which sometimes chimes in to say, “Hey, dummy, why did you decide to do THIS?” And how pilots deal with that and continue on. I mean, as Lex has said before: it ain’t all beer and skittles.

By: STEVEC

STEVEC — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:58:24 +0000

Thanks, Tim. I understand the concept in my gut. I understand the feeling – not from military service, but from other activities not dangerous to my existence, but still that feeling was there. I guess what my point was and is is to try to find a way to put into words a summary of the feeling: Confidence plus experience plus training plus responsibility plus all those things that combine to make a person do things that are plainly difficult and at times unpleasant.

Have you read “Flight of the Intruder” by Stephen Coontz? He covers it there in his writing, but better, like Lex, from his emotion which comes clearly through underlying the words.

By: Glenn Cassel AMH1(AW) Retired

Glenn Cassel AMH1(AW) Retired — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:26:45 +0000

Which T-2C outfit? I remember 9, 23 and 26 and was in 26 from Feb 77 to Dec 78. I had to go back to sea with a workload like we had on “preferred shore duty.”
I liked the Buckeye. It was easy to work on and one guy could jack one up if he had to.