CONTENTS flighttraining.aopa.org VOLUME.24 / NUMBER. 2 02.12 FEATURES 32 PREFLIGHT PRESCRIPTION A time to take your time. It's easy to become complacent when you're on your umpteenth walkaround—but your life depends on it, so think again. By Jamie Beckett COVER STORY » How to make perfect landings. THE LAST SIX INCHES 26 36 BODY OF WORK How a dead bird spawned the modern fuselage. Discovering the key to longitudinal stability. By Phil Scott 40 Power-on stall. There is nothing to fear. By Ian J. Twombly TECHNIQUE Here's your opportunity to shine—grease that landing every time and you'll have the envy and respect of all of those hangar buddies watching and critiquing your every move. By Ian J. Twombly See page 32 "BECAUSE I HAD MADE AN ASSUMPTION ABOUT THE AIRPLANE'S CONDITION...I'D BOXED MYSELF INTO A SERIES OF ERRORS THAT NEARLY LED TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM." —JAMIE BECKETT WHAT'S THE RUSH? PROPER PREFLIGHT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE p.32. WINDY DAY TIPS . p.42 flighttraining.aopa.org JUDGMENT DAY THE POWER ON STALL p. HOW DEICE BOOTS WORK COCKPIT TRICKS TO HELP YOU REMEMBER DON'T FEAR ME Make your landings the best they can be p. ICE IS NOT NICE p. $3.95 FORGET ME NOT A Publication of AOPA p. ON THE COVER » Mike Fizer photographed this Cessna Skyhawk landing at the Lake Wales, Florida, airport to accompany Ian J. Twombly's story "The Last Six Inches," which begins on page 26. FEBRUARY 2012 FLIGHT TRAINING /1http://flighttraining.aopa.org