Debrief

Aviat was looking for a company test pilot with substantial Pitts time, an airframe and powerplant technician, and someone who could help move marketing forward—former Navy aviator Peter S. Pierpont had all three skills.

INSPIRED BY A DC–3… I took my first flight from Hyannis, Massachusetts, to Boston in a DC–3 at the age of 8. This lit the fire. I saved my pennies to fund flights in a “new” Piper Tri-Pacer before my feet could reach the rudder pedals.

favorite aircraft… My favorite single is the Pitts S-2B/C because of the feel, performance, and certainty of spin recovery. My favorite twin is the Beech 18 for performance and handling.

CHALLENGE… I was prepping for the FAA production test pilot checkride in a Pitts. In an inverted flat spin, the new engine froze. I was lined up on a bit of straight road when I hit a power line, which fouled the ailerons and rolled the Pitts inverted. With no aileron control, full rudder application rolled the aircraft right side up, and the touchdown was without a scratch. Training kicked in, including fly the airplane, pick a spot, and review the checklist. The ringer was that you can roll an aircraft upright from inverted in a few seconds with rudder and no aileron control.

LESSONS FROM THE COCKPIT… Keep flying the aircraft, no matter how bad it looks. Be prepared and be cool. I’ve had engine fires, autopilots rolled me in the clouds, and new engines seized. No longer do I believe it can’t happen to me. There is a tight correlation to living life.

ADVICE FOR STUDENTS… Flesh out your piloting skills with continuous improvement in aircraft and systems knowledge. Explore other modes of flight. From the exhilaration of motorless flight to the eye-popping, split-second execution of an autorotation to touchdown in a helicopter, all offer a neverending personal challenge for excellence.