AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014 - 34

PILOT BRIEFING
PILOT PRODUCTS

The mind of a master
Rod Machado's 'How to Fly
an Airplane Handbook'
B Y I A N J. T W O M B LY
IT'S NOT OFTEN we have the opportunity
to get inside the mind of a master flight
instructor. But with Rod Machado's new
book that's exactly what we get.
Rod Machado's How to Fly an Airplane
Handbook is part maneuvers manual, part theory on flight.
The AOPA Pilot and Flight Training columnist said he wanted to
give both the why of flying and the how to do it. "There are books
that talk about flying airplanes," he says. "But they don't talk much
about the actual technique." To that end, reading Machado's handbook is like taking a lesson. With landings, for example, he goes
beyond describing how the aerodynamics work to discuss exactly
where to look and why. With steep turns he describes the visual
references and how they change with left and right turns. "It's the
advice I give when I teach," he says.
The book is full of little gems like this we normally only get from
the best instructors in a one-on-one lesson. Machado spent more
than three years writing and illustrating the book, which is punctuated with his trademark humor.
Contact: www.rodmachado.com

Clarity ADS-B receiver
IN-COCKPIT WEATHER is the greatest advance in situational awareness since GPS. With hardware continually coming down in price,
there are virtually no excuses not to equip. And if you're still looking
for a solution, an iPad with a Sagetech Clarity ADS-B receiver and
your software application of choice is a good option. Clarity is compatible with about a dozen different applications. If your favorite is
on the list, simply turn on the unit, throw it on the glareshield, connect the iPad to it via Wifi, and open the application. Once at altitude
you'll be rewarded with subscription-free weather and limited traffic information (other airplanes with ADS-B Out).
The little things matter with these devices, and with the Clarity a
nice feature is the rubber sleeve it comes in. The little brick doesn't
budge an inch once inside.
We tested Clarity on a day with marginal weather and found it
to be easy to use, reliable, and with a solid battery life (the company
advertises six to eight hours). Two versions are available-a standard
model and one that includes an attitude and heading reference system for a digital synthetic vision display.
-Ian J. Twombly

Price: $1,150 for the base model; $1,400 with synthetic vision
Contact: www.sagetechcorp.com
34 | AOPA PILOT November 2014

Tucson Soaring Club
Growing the sport of gliders
BY BENET WILSON
THE TUCSON SOARING CLUB, formed
in November 1967 at Ryan Field with
25 charter members, was created to
promote the sport and training of the next generation
of glider pilots.
The club has 10 aircraft, including three two-place
Grob 103s and a two-place PW6, four single-place
airplanes, (two Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirruses,
a Politechnika Warszawska PW5 and a Schweizer
SGS 1-34), and two Pawnee towplanes. "We also have
a dozen private owners," said Ron Olson, who handles
flight operations for the club.
Joining the club requires a $400 initiation fee,
the first month's dues of $65, and $64 for a one-year
membership in the Soaring Society of America. Family
memberships cost $32.50 for each additional family
member. "We also offer a three-flight introductory
package for $250, of which $100 can be applied toward
membership," said Olson. Youth and student memberships cost $32.50 a month.
Club aircraft are available to members at no additional cost, and tows cost $1.20 per 100 feet plus a $2
fuel surcharge. "Our youngest guy was an Air Force
cadet, and it goes up to guys in their 70s and everything in between," Olson said.
The club stays active in the Tucson community,
with a yearly aviation camp for Boy Scouts and flights
for the disabled. "We have one glider with a hand
control, so we've done events with the Wounded
Warriors," he said.
Olson advises those wanting to start a club to
research and see how other clubs have succeeded, and
failed. "The Soaring Society of America has all kinds
of people to help direct new clubs," he said. "You also
need to encourage young people by taking a ride with
a friend or club member. Share the sport."
EMAIL benet.wilson@aopa.org

SOARING SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Soaring Society of
America was formed in
1932 to foster and promote
all phases of soaring across
the world. For more information, visit the website (www.ssa.org).

http://www.rodmachado.com http://www.ssa.org http://www.sagetechcorp.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2014

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