Mon May 17, 2021 12:59 pm
#1847465
I think I have probably read most of Martha's articles since she started writing for Flyer. I wasnt quite sure what to make of her to begin with, she seemed out of keeping with the other contributors, and yet clearly bags full of experience and stories. I sensed she was proud of being a non conformist and of an era when pilots were given more latitude than they are today. Somehow I suspect she will be flying again and will hopefully drift into a happy and safe retirement.
The video blogs always present an interesting view point. I have been an advocate for a long time of pilots pushing boundaries. One of the things I am more pleased than most things that I did was initially an aeorbatic course, and then some. I think there are many pilots if honest with themselves who would admit to being scared of their aircraft. I dont mean scared generally, but definitely not really comfortable with unusual manoueveres. They become reluctant to practise these and when they do, tend to bale well before a great deal is to be taken. When was the last time you put an aircraft into a full stall? They placate themselves with the rational spins were dropped from ab intio training. It will not happen to me, I will always remain with the aircrafts envelope, and it is more dangerous than the benefits it brings. No doubt there is some rational in this argument, but, equally, I think it is one of those that may work better for some than others. Certainly it works until the one time every thing conspires against you whatever that combination may be and you could not have avoided. Mine was a landing at Cambridge with a Hercules doing fulll power run ups with the wash at right angles across the runway. Maybe I should have seen it, but I didnt and there really wasnt any reason to be looking and I wasnt warned. I dont think any of us would not have been caught out.
In my view everyone who can should do an aeroabtics course. You dont come away a better pilot, you come away a transformed pilot. You may never make or be comfortable with aeros, but all of a sudden you will become a great deal more comfortable with all the basic stuff. As I think the video blog makes clear it is the comfort level that is critical. The absence of panic, and the sense that you have seen this before and have a pretty good idea how the aircraft will react.
It is the best money you will spend on flying. You know it makes sense.
Last edited by IMCR on Mon May 17, 2021 1:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.