Alan Watts would have turned 101 yrs-old today. This is an excellent comic page from Zen Pencils illustrating one of his quotes, the full “What would you like to do if money were no object.” For me the answer is easy. Fly airplanes.
An Extension of My Arms
Kirby is a five-time US National Aerobatic Champion and two-time Red Bull Air Race World Champion. With over 27,000 flight hours, he says in a Flying magazine video that wings are “just an extension of my arms.” Photo from TeamChambliss, taken at his Flying Crown Ranch, between Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona.
In Love with the Work
“I fell in love with the work. And the work was joyful and difficult and interesting. And that was my focus.” ~ Jerry Seinfeld, talking to President Obama, on keeping perspective and finding meaning in life after making millions. It works even if you aren’t a billionaire or a president. On the web show www.comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com
Is It Worth It?
Poem by Natalie Goldberg, reflecting on her life. From her new book, The Great Spring: Writing, Zen, and this Zigzag Life, to be published on 2 February, 2016. The greats dedicate themselves so completely. And is it worth it? Depends on what you value. For me, I’m looking forward to flying another oceanic red-eye, and seeing inside the night sky.
A340 Engine Shutdown Video
YouTube has a great 15-minute video of an Airbus A340 crew running ECAMs and checklists that results in shutting down an engine in flight. For real. It’s been viewed a bunch of times, but I hadn’t seen it till today, so maybe you haven’t either. It’s an interesting, thought provoking experience. The Swiss airline crew were being filmed by PilotsEye.tv …
Milking a Mouse
“Milking a mouse” Bob Hoover, describing his mindset on being gentle with early jets. Flying The Feathered Edge is a great documentary that’s now on iTunes. It lets us spend 90 minutes with maybe the world’s greatest pilot. That’s a pretty good way to relax over the holidays.
Perfection, Zero Error, Flawless Performance
Zero errors is an impossible goal. What we should work on is catching our errors early. This is from a book on High Reliability Organizations (HROs): It’s an excellent book, a classic. The latest (2015) edition is on Amazon
Airport Worker Killed in “Freak Accident”
The Daily Express newspaper reports today that an airport worker was killed in a “freak accident.” He was sucked into a jet engine. Or as human factors professionals calls it, a “normal accident”. An Air India official told The Hindustan Times: At the moment, we are absolutely clueless on how this person was near the aircraft. Only an inquiry can establish whose …
Harrison Ford Talks (Some) Flying
“When the engine quit, my training had prepared me to deal with it in a way. I really didn’t get scared. I just got busy. I knew what I was going to do, and I knew how to do it. The mantra aviators carry around in our heads is: Fly the airplane, first thing. Fly the airplane — even if …
1955 Safety Film: What’s Changed and What’s Not
Youtube has a great AOPA safety film for GA pilots called The Flight Decision. It’s a little dated. Like sixty years dated. (Yep, 1955.) It’s fun to see what has changed—and what has not. Flight line fashion has changed. But the planes in this film (remember film?) are probably still flying. Some of the safety stuff is simplistic. But many …