“The real need is for a fully aerobatic training aeroplane to be provided so that airline pilots can practise real flying manoeuveres and recovery from unusual attitudes. … There are too many senior transport pilots flying who have just about forgotten how to fly an aeroplane.” The Chief Test Pilot of the UK Airworthiness Authority wrote this in the last …
Tag: practice
Brain Simulator
Simulators cost millions of dollars. But all of us can use our ‘brain simulators’ to become better pilots. Mélanie Astles is a five time French Aerobatic Champion and now is the first woman to compete in the Red Bull Air Races. Quote comes from an article in espnW.com by Tony Rehagen: For pilot Melanie Astles, to air is divine (15 October 2016).
Spaceman Mike Massimino
I just finished the great book Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe by Mike Massimino. (It came out earlier this month, hardcopy, kindle, iBooks.) It’s an easy engaging read, the personal story of his cool travels through colleges, companies, and on to two amazing Hubble rescue missions on the Space Shuttle. Best astronaut book …
Misty Copeland on the Perpetual Pursuit
Misty Copeland is a ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre. Last year she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at a major American ballet company. She knows something about the perpetual pursuit: The full quote, from an interview in Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, 4 August 2016: “There’s no taking days off. We’re as good as our last performance, and you’re constantly working to …
Fly Like an Eagle
I just re-watched the excellent rockumentary History of the Eagles (2013), over four hours on the band that made the biggest-selling album of the twentieth century. The movie has several revealing interviews with members of the legendary band. Contemporary thoughts from the early 70’s, and reflections after 40 years: “Perfection is not an accident.” Glenn Frey “Our goal was just to …
Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise
There are loads of self-help books. Boat loads, as they say. Some are good. Most are not. This new book—part self-help, part popular science—won’t help you lose weight or find inner peace; but if you want to learn to fly, or get better at piloting, or be the best pilot in the world in some airplane or mission—this is the …
Patty Wagstaff on the Perpetual Pursuit
“Just Keep Going.”
Ted wasn’t just the greatest hitter in the history of baseball, he was a Marine Corps fighter pilot who flew 39 combat missions during the Korean War. He lived the perpetual pursuit.
How to be a Champion Pilot, by a Champion Pilot
Kirby is five time US National Aerobatic Champion and two time Red Bull Air Race World Champion. His website is www.teamchambliss.com
Peter Isler’s Sailing Secrets
Peter Isler won the America’s Cup twice, and has a long amazing biography of sailing achievements. He also wrote a book of sailing secrets. I just read it, looking for seamanship secrets we can use as pilots. And guess what, the secrets really aren’t that secret! There were some ideas that directly translate to flying. Here’s one that resonated: Behind …