AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 14

LETTERS
172 from Florida to Arizona
and back. While the two Mikes'
adventure took 98.1 hours over
25 days, ours took 40.1 hours
over nine (flying) days. We flew
one-eighth of their miles (3,415
versus 26,568) at one-third of
their speed (100 knots versus
273 knots). Laver flew in honor
of his airplane's fiftieth anniversary. We flew in order to deliver
10 young saguaro cacti back to
their native desert. He has 38
years of flying experience; I
have less than five. Like I said,
a trip just like Mike's! My conclusion: GA not only stands for
general aviation, but also for
great adventures.
Leslie Nixon
AOPA 6194377
Ormond Beach, Florida

Engine-out
landings at night

Michele Denber, AOPA 4702007, Rochester, New York

experience myself-engine out
at takeoff at night in a dense
urban area. I walked away from
it, I believe, because of my training with my very first instructor
(nose down, the insurance company now owns the airplane). I
was back flying within 10 days
(in a rental; my airplane was
totaled) and now own a Piper
Aztec (I upgraded my rating
also).  You really have little time
to think; my engine-out was at
about 300 feet. "Landing" the
airplane wheels down is the

most important. My first VFR
instructor just beat it into
me-forget about the impossible turn (I started one because
my engine was stumbling, but
committed after the stall light
flicked). I also had quite a bit
of experience with the AOPA
legal plan, not for any sanctions
against me, but to try and get
the NTSB to put out an accurate "factual" report.
Jeff King
AOPA 6700502
Hillsdale, Michigan

HANGAR TALK

I read Al Marsh's story with
interest. I also had the same

"It was fun to read Dave Hirschman's story on 3-D printing in the
December issue. I've had a 3-D printer for a while now and have
already printed two parts for my Piper Aztec, for the same reasons
he cited-high cost of replacements, if you can find them at all. One
was a pilot air vent knob and the other was a seat adjuster knob."

"I was a little apprehensive before our photo
flight wondering if the
sleek Aerostar Jet could
comfortably maneuver in
formation with a slower
Cessna 210," says Senior
Editor DAVE HIRSCHMAN
("TED SMITH'S DREAM,"
page 42). "I needn't have
worried-the Aerostar Jet
was rock solid at 120 KIAS
and getting it into position and keeping it there
became second nature.
The Aerostar is a masterpiece, flies beautifully at
high and low speeds, and
the jet engines enhance
its very best qualities. Our
flight on a gorgeous evening over northern Idaho's
rugged mountains is an
experience I'll always
treasure."
14 | AOPA PILOT February 2014

Military history has
long been an interest of
Technical Editor MIKE
COLLINS, who attended
the Commemorative Air
Force's annual Airsho last
October. It's renowned
for a stunning variety of
flying warbirds. But he'll
most remember talking with members of the
456th Bomb Group, which
flew B-24 Liberators over
Europe during World War
II ("HISTORY ON PARADE,"
page 70). "These gracious gentlemen, among
the last survivors of the
Greatest Generation, had
gathered for their second-to-last reunion," he
says. "They remain incredibly modest and humble,
even 70 years after their
service."

The manner in which the
appearance of an airplane strikes a pilot's
eye is a matter of personal opinion. Contributor
BARRY SCHIFF, who writes
about the Cessna 180
Skywagon ("LEGENDARY
POPULARITY," page 50),
has never thought that
Cessna made a beautiful single-engine airplane.
"They have, though, made
some strikingly useful
ones," he says. He claims
that the Cessna 180 is
such an airplane. "I used
to fly these handsome
taildraggers into some
very challenging High
Sierra strips, and these
taildraggers always made
us look good. Airplanes
like the 180 have a way of
doing that."

Monocular pilot

Regarding the December article by Dr. Warren Silberman
concerning certification of
pilots with monocular vision
("Member News and Notes"),
I recovered my first class medical certificate after I became
a monocular pilot in 1973. It
extended my airline and finally
my corporate flying career for
almost 40 additional years.
I was riding the ski chair
several years ago in Vail,
Colorado, and I was seated
beside a former pilot for a
large airline. He had lost an
eye in an accident and it ended
his career. I told him about my
experience and that approximately 100 airline pilots were
flying at the time with monocular vision. He became so
excited I thought he was going
to jump out of the chair. The
instant we reached the top of
the mountain he jumped out
of the chair and was schussing
straight down the mountain
heading for his car so he could
go see his medical examiner.
I often wondered if he got his
medical back and was able to
continue his career.
Dale (Bud) Leppard
AOPA 711647
Morristown, New Jersey
We welcome your comments.
Editor, AOPA Pilot, 421 Aviation
Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701
or email (pilot@aopa.org). Letters may be edited for length
and style before publication.
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014

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