AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2023 - 16

LETTERS
Flying as one
A reader weighs in on the best
airplane for formation flights
I enjoyed Dave Hirschman's " Flying as One "
in the February 2023 issue, but was surprised
his list of good formation aircraft left out the
Zlin 242 L. It features Hirschman's preferred
attributes, including a low wing, bubble canopy,
control stick, and constant-speed prop.
Granted, the seating is side-by-side. But the
242 has a duplicate throttle under the left canopy
rail, just like tandem seat airframes. The
242 is built hell-for-stout and rated for +6 and
-3.5 Gs. Which is good because flying formation
and flying aerobatics go together like peanut
butter and jelly. Finally, there's an urban legend
that the Zlin 242 L is an Experimental. In fact,
it's certified by the FAA and EASA.
Paul Michael Brown / AOPA 1217521
Washington, D.C.
Never again
I really enjoyed Kollin Stagnito's column, " On
Course: Never Again. " I think the " Never Again "
stories have been invaluable teaching tools for
many years, as well as thoroughly entertaining.
After his fuel pump episode commentary,
I couldn't help but remember a similar (if less
dramatic) episode of my own.
My father owned a 1968 Cessna 310N that
I dearly loved. He had a professional pilot (my
former instructor), but I got to fly it on occasion.
My father was a diehard Baylor fan and
graduate, and my sister and I both went to the
University of Arkansas. When Baylor played
Arkansas, it was a big deal. My parents were
visiting their best friends in Palestine, Texas.
I was to take the 310 from our home in Mena,
Arkansas, to pick up my parents and their best
friends in Palestine and fly them on to Waco for
the game. When I left Mena, I was running late.
I did a good preflight inspection and was ready
to leave when I realized I had forgotten one little
thing-my luggage.
I had to shut down both engines, get out
of the airplane, get my luggage, and put it in
a wing locker. I jumped back in the airplane,
taxied out, and took off. At about 400 to 500
feet, something caught my attention. I had not
latched the wing locker, and a pair of white
16
AOPA PILOT / April 2023
linen slacks were waving out the back of the
locker. (It was the 1970s.)
Unfortunately, the white linen slacks didn't
make it around the pattern. I landed, closed the
locker, and went on with an uneventful flight-
except for the fact that those damned pants
were waving in a tree just at the south end of
Runway 17 of the Mena airport.
I had a reminder to complete a thorough
preflight and take my time at departure for several
years to come. (I never fessed up to anyone
at the airport about those pants-until now!)
Robert L. Stringer Jr. / AOPA 1404816
Duncanville, Texas
Power line predicament
Richard McSpadden's piece in the February
2023 issue about the Mooney accident near
Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) is excellent
( " What Went Wrong: Power Line
Predicament " ). Because of its well-documented
nature, the GAI accident needs to be elevated to
landmark status, similar to the TWA 514 crash
into Mount Weather in 1974.
The TWA accident occurred just 30 miles
from GAI and caused changes in ATC procedure
and hastened the development of ground proximity
warning systems. When I was doing my
instrument training in 1979, that accident and
the change to ATC approach clearances it produced
were studied for and reinforced by FAA
written exams and discussed during training.
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING
OF MEMBERS
The Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association annual
member meeting will be held
at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 18,
2023, at AOPA headquarters,
421 Aviation Way, Frederick,
Maryland, 21701, located
on the Frederick Municipal
Airport (FDK), for the purpose
of electing trustees.
AOPA's CEO will also give a
report/update on the state of
general aviation.
While not required, if
you plan to attend we would
appreciate your RSVP to kira.
muren@aopa.org. If you are
not able to attend, but would
like to appoint your voting
proxy, please visit aopa.org/
proxyupdate or use the QR
code below. You may also do
so by calling 800-872-2672.
-Justine A. Harrison, Secretary
Notice
The Aircraft Owners and
Thursday, May 18, 2023, at AO
located on the Frederick
AOPA's CEO wil
While not requir
kira.muren@aopa.org
proxy, please v
Yo
update voting proxy here
FLYING AS
ONE
Finding the right aircraft
to learn a demanding new skill
BY DAVE HIRSCHMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ROSE
50
AOPA PILOT / February 2023
AOPA PILOT / February 2023
51
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2023

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