Flight Training - June 2014 - 8

LETTERS

Talk back
WE APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS. Please email letters
to flighttraining@aopa.org. Letters
will be edited for style and space.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

THE MANY VARIABLES OF LANDINGS

I

was just reading Jamie Beckett's article on landings ("Seeing
is Believing," April 2014 Flight Training). It's generally nicely
written, but does anyone refer to "notches" of flaps anymore?
While Jamie implies a stabilized approach, he does not

specifically mention or emphasize
its importance for both safety and
technique. Nor are landings from an
abbreviated approach, or varying wind/
weather, addressed. Landings are simple, but there can be many variables.
Russ Smith
Fayetteville, Arkansas
CAREER ADVISOR

In "Career Advisor: Professional Flying and a 'Below-Par' Student" (April
2014 Flight Training), an 18-year-old
high school graduate-Ken from Santa
Rosa-asked if his grades will affect
his hiring.
Well, I was very much like Ken back
in 1966 getting out of high school,
but flying was my passion. After attending Miami-Dade Junior College, I was
drafted and went through the United
States Army fixed-wing flight school,
and later finished up at Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University (I made the
dean's list).
In late 1977 I was hired by United
AirLines as a line pilot. After 35 years

and many different jets and many sim
checks, I retired on July 28, 2014, at
the age of 65. My last 13 years were
as captain on the B-777 flying around
the world. I retired number 16 on the
pilots list. Not bad for below-par grades
in high school.
I would never tell someone to not
follow their dreams because of grades.
Tell Ken to find a flight school and
continue his dream.
Roger Anuskewicz  
Barrington, Illinois
        
THE FOUR FORCES

I enjoyed "The Four Forces" (April
2014 Flight Training), but would like to
clarify two points. A spinning ball per
se does not create much, if any,
lift. Think of a smooth pingpong ball.
It is the differential friction on a spinning ball caused by either the fuzz on
tennis balls, the dimples on golf balls,
or the stitching on baseballs that causes
the lift.
On an airplane it's the upwash on
the thicker leading edge that results

JOIN THE JUNE FLIGHT TRAINING CHAT
It's checkride season!
Are you ready to take your practical test? Join Ian J.
Twombly; Jill W. Tallman; and Bob Schmelzer, author
of Flight Training's "Checkride" column, to talk about
what your examiner wants to see, and what could send you home without your
temporary certificate. Join the conversation-one chatter will receive a $50 Aircraft
Spruce gift card. Sign up for an email reminder (www.aopa.org/facebook/
flighttraining/livechat.html).
Flight Training Facebook chats are sponsored by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty (www.
aircraftspruce).
8/

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Flight Training - June 2014

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