It’s very easy, after making one bad decision, to make another. And following two bad decisions, not only is your reservoir of luck running low, your options have just been significantly narrowed as well. At three bad decisions, you might as well just call the NTSB yourself to save a bystander the trouble.
Opinion
Life goes on
Each one of us has the opportunity to set out on our own adventure. Whether we win or lose in the long run is anyone’s guess. Whether anyone remembers us or what we accomplish is beside the point. Try. Push on to the next big thing. Your next big thing. Even if nobody else cares.
SPAD for two
While the French SPAD single-seat fighters were ace-makers, disappointing performance and maneuverability in the two-seat derivatives failed to justify their use as a fighter. Instead, the two-seat versions earned a niche in the war as bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.
What are the advantages to a high compression conversion of my aircraft’s engine?
Reader Jeffrey A. Hughes asks our engines expert: What is the advantage to doing a high compression conversion to a Lycoming O-320 (from 150 hp to 160 hp)? I suppose the obvious answer is 10 more horsepower, but my natural inclination, given the name “high compression,” would be improved fuel economy. Are there other advantages?
Questions from the Cockpit: Right vs. Left
Galen, one of our pilot readers, writes: Hello, I have always wondered why the left magneto is to the right on the keyswitch, and the right magneto is to the left.
Qualified or competent?
You might have checked all the boxes and met the technical standard for the completion of the training for your pilot certificate or additional rating. But are you competent? Do you have the confidence to perform under pressure? The difference between being qualified and being competent can be very small, but it is a critical distinction.
Don’t forget we are in command
As a reminder, FAR Part 91.3 is titled “Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command.” Part (a) states, “The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority, as to the operation of that aircraft.”
Winning through failure
Frankly — and I think it is long past time the following statement should come into common usage — failure isn’t such a bad thing. Accept failure as a periodic occurrence. Welcome it, even. For failure only comes our way when we aim high and fall somewhat short.
Do multigrade oils increase valve sticking in piston airplane engines?
Recently an engine rebuilder called with a question I had not heard before. He asked if multigrade oils would increase the possibility of valve sticking in piston aircraft engines. My first response was “why would you think that?” Then I started to think through the mechanics of the problem.