Flight Training - October 2012 - 56

DEBRIEF

A pilot's perspective
MORRELL’S FATHER, a British navy pilot, was shot down during D-Day.

RAMBO PILOT

DAVID MORRELL

David Morrell describes himself as a “Method-actor kind of novelist.” When he’s researching a novel, he’ll often become proficient in the topic to make the details authentic. So in 2008, while researching The Skimmer—about the mysterious Marfa Lights in West Texas—he took flying lessons so that he could write knowledgeably about the small aircraft used to track them. He earned a private pilot certificate and now is working on an instrument rating. His 1972 debut novel, First Blood, introduced the world to a Vietnam veteran named Rambo. He has written 28 novels, six nonfiction books, and numerous short stories.

EARLY CHALLENGES… I have a liberal arts background. In high school, trigonometry and other forms of mathematics gave me a headache. When it came to flying, though, I quickly realized that I needed to expand my mind. The practical application of mathematics soon fascinated me. HARDEST LESSONS…No news here. The various types of landings gave me trouble. I flew the pattern so many times that I literally dreamed about it. Then one day, I surprised myself by flying the airplane rather than thinking about it. FAVORITE FLIGHT…My wife and I watched the John Ford/John Wayne film, The Searchers. We were so enchanted by Utah’s Monument Valley that, for my wife’s birthday, I flew her there [from Santa Fe]. Flying over those canyons and spires was breathtaking. ADVICE FOR STUDENTS… Everyone learns at a different rate. Sometimes I got frustrated because I was stuck in a particular part of my training. But eventually I learned to visualize what I needed to do, to fly the lessons in my imagination. If I paused or got confused in my mind, I knew that the same thing would happen in the air. The items that made me pause are what my instructors and I discussed on the ground and then emphasized in flight.

writer

WHO: David Morrell, TOTAL TIME: 500 hours

Cessna 172

AIRCRAFT OWNED:

PLUS Read an expanded interview with David Morrell.

EXTRA: Morrell’s novelizations for Rambo (First Blood Part II) and Rambo III are available as e-books, with revised texts and in-depth introductions. See the website (www.david morrell.net).

JENNIFER ESPERANZA

56 /

FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

http://www.davidmorrell.net http://www.davidmorrell.net http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - October 2012

Flight Training - October 2012
Contents
President’s Perspective
Right Seat
Letters
When the Wind Blows
How It Works
After the Checkride
Success Story
News
Since You Asked
ASI News Final Exam
Member Products News
Flying Carpet
Able Pilots
Don't Risk It
Technique
Weather
Accident Report
Flight Lesson
Explaining Accidents
Career Advisor
Tech Talk
Think Before You Speak
The Product of Flying
Power Play
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - October 2012 - Flight Training - October 2012
Flight Training - October 2012 - Cover2
Flight Training - October 2012 - Contents
Flight Training - October 2012 - 2
Flight Training - October 2012 - 3
Flight Training - October 2012 - President’s Perspective
Flight Training - October 2012 - 5
Flight Training - October 2012 - Right Seat
Flight Training - October 2012 - 7
Flight Training - October 2012 - Letters
Flight Training - October 2012 - 9
Flight Training - October 2012 - When the Wind Blows
Flight Training - October 2012 - 11
Flight Training - October 2012 - How It Works
Flight Training - October 2012 - After the Checkride
Flight Training - October 2012 - Success Story
Flight Training - October 2012 - News
Flight Training - October 2012 - Since You Asked
Flight Training - October 2012 - 17
Flight Training - October 2012 - ASI News Final Exam
Flight Training - October 2012 - Member Products News
Flight Training - October 2012 - 20
Flight Training - October 2012 - 21
Flight Training - October 2012 - 22
Flight Training - October 2012 - 23
Flight Training - October 2012 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - October 2012 - 25
Flight Training - October 2012 - Able Pilots
Flight Training - October 2012 - 27
Flight Training - October 2012 - 28
Flight Training - October 2012 - 29
Flight Training - October 2012 - 30
Flight Training - October 2012 - 31
Flight Training - October 2012 - Don't Risk It
Flight Training - October 2012 - 33
Flight Training - October 2012 - 34
Flight Training - October 2012 - 35
Flight Training - October 2012 - 36
Flight Training - October 2012 - 37
Flight Training - October 2012 - Technique
Flight Training - October 2012 - 39
Flight Training - October 2012 - Weather
Flight Training - October 2012 - 41
Flight Training - October 2012 - 42
Flight Training - October 2012 - Accident Report
Flight Training - October 2012 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - October 2012 - Explaining Accidents
Flight Training - October 2012 - Career Advisor
Flight Training - October 2012 - 47
Flight Training - October 2012 - Tech Talk
Flight Training - October 2012 - Think Before You Speak
Flight Training - October 2012 - The Product of Flying
Flight Training - October 2012 - Power Play
Flight Training - October 2012 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - October 2012 - 53
Flight Training - October 2012 - 54
Flight Training - October 2012 - 55
Flight Training - October 2012 - Debrief
Flight Training - October 2012 - Cover3
Flight Training - October 2012 - Cover4
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