FEBRUARY2012 VOLUME 55 | NUMBER 2 | www.aopa.org/pilot COMMENTARY 4 President’s Position Building our pilot community. 20 24 26 28 30 32 34 Letters Honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. Waypoints Into the night. Proficient Pilot Critters. Safety Pilot Spin cycle. License to Learn False confidence. Pilot Counsel FAA reexamination request. Fly Well Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Hangar Talk The story behind the story. 10 12 36 104 107 DEPARTMENTS 6 AOPA Media Stories with enhanced content. AOPA Action Keep flying: Free online course, no AME. Pilot Briefing Private space race gets new entrant. Never Again Xs, fences, and cows. Fly-Outs Big Bear City Airport. 108 112 Fly by Wire Index of advertisers. Pilots Stuart Powell. Look for this icon throughout the issue to see Enhanced Digital Edition features. Follow us: Facebook.com/aopapilots twitter: @AOPA_Pilot On the cover: Chris Rose photographed the Mooney M20E in the skies over the Chesapeake Bay to accompany Ian J. Twombly’s story “Budget Buy: Classically Quick,” which begins on page 44. On these pages: Chris Rose photographed the Percival Provost in Culpeper, Virginia, to accompany Dave Hirschman’s story “Fine Englishman,” which begins on page 52. AOPA PILOT • 2 • MAY 2009 • FEBRUARY 2012http://www.aopa.org/pilot http://www.Facebook.com/aopapilots