Flight Training - July 2021 - 40

Every aspect of soloing is memorable, and for good
reason. It's an inflection point. Students are completely
on their own in the air for the very first time, and the
freedom is exhilarating.
" It's hard to explain, " he said, " but the
jacket just wasn't important to me anymore.
The idea of it was great motivation, but
once I crossed the finish line, I didn't feel
like there was anything to prove. The qualification
was important, and getting it wasn't
easy, but the jacket itself didn't matter. "
Similarly, a former U.S. Navy pilot who
flew F/A-18 Hornets said he used to hoot
and holler whenever he saw a returning
fighter pass by at 450 knots and pull 9 Gs
during the 360-degree overhead break to
land. Whenever he flew, he returned the
favor by doing the same thing himself.
Then, as time went on and he gained
experience, his view changed. Instead of
demonstrating skill, pride, and spirit, the
conspicuous arrivals seemed like childish
antics that needlessly wore out costly and
vital equipment.
" I'd see exactly the same behavior
I used to cheer on and do myself, " he
said. " But all I could think was, 'What a
jackass.' "
Personally, I remember watching a
Piper Comanche taxi by long ago and
making the comment to one of my fellow
aerobatic pilots that it was a shame to
waste a perfectly good Lycoming IO-540
engine on such a boring airplane.
That same powerful, purring engine,
we thought, could be put to such better
use on a Pitts S-2B, an Extra, or a Harmon
Rocket. But later, as I started doing more
cross-country and instrument flying, I
no longer regarded the Piper Comanche
as a missed opportunity for a Lycoming
engine. In fact, I came to admire the
Comanche's range, payload, and stability
in the clouds.
I still appreciate Pitts biplanes and
Harmon Rockets-but I've got a new appreciation
for airplanes I used to dismiss.
Flying solo is a turning point.
A pilot's first solo flight is a milestone no
one who does it ever forgets.
The dates and details of checkrides get
hazy over time, but every aspect of soloing
is memorable, and for good reason. It's an
inflection point. Students are completely
on their own in the air for the very first
time, and the freedom is exhilarating. For
some, the act of soloing-or earning a
pilot certificate-creates confidence that
spills over into other areas of their life.
Nothing seems out of reach anymore.
Even the most outlandish goals seem
achievable.
Flying can also bring about new and
unexpected humility.
Noted author John Steinbeck said he
thought becoming a pilot would make
him feel powerful, but in fact, the vastness
of being aloft made him feel tiny and
insignificant.
Artist Chris Carter said learning to fly
gave her new tools that extend far beyond
the cockpit.
" Learning to fly an airplane taught
me a way of thinking, an approach to
problem-solving that was applicable
and effective, " she said. " Pilots are very
methodical and meticulous, and artists
tend not to be. " FT
dave.hirschman@aopa.org
JARGON
Lazy 8s
40 FLIGHT TRAINING JULY 2021
Constantly changing flight control pressures make this flight maneuver a test of coordination
across a wide range of airspeeds and attitudes. Essentially, you'll paint an " 8 " on the horizon
with the airplane's nose through a series of climbing and descending turns. The lazy 8 is one of
the commercial pilot training maneuvers, and the aerobatic version takes it to the next level.

Flight Training - July 2021

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