Coms

Living the dream

At home with aviation

I resonate with the feelings Ian J. Twombly wrote about in the February issue of Flight Training: “Right Seat: Living the Dream.” It has also been my dream to be able to keep a GA airplane at my house. I am extremely blessed to have an uncle who is able to do just that, which allows me to enjoy some of the benefits in proxy. Since I can remember, he has always lived on an airstrip, and has owned a hangar in which he keeps his airplane(s). He is the person most responsible for fueling my love of aviation, and although he lives more than three hours away I am fortunate to be able to receive free flight instruction from him (he is a CFI/A&P and I am a student pilot).

I can tell you there’s (almost) nothing better than being able to walk out your back door, get in your airplane, and take off. I sincerely hope that someday you have the opportunity to “Live the Dream.”

Brady Aldrich
Wenatchee, Washington

Erratum

In the article “In Range” (April 2019 Flight Training) there is a conceptual error. On page 42 it is claimed that the maximum “glide line” depends on wind and weight. The first claim is true but the second one is false. It is true that the heavier of the airplane, the faster the airplane will glide to reach the “glide line.” The pilot does nothing but keep the same gliding angle.

The position of the maximum “glide line” is defined by best glide angle, and this last does not depend on weight, because this angle is related to the ratio Lift (L) over Drag (D), (L/D)_MAX and this is reached only for one glide angle: the best glide angle.

Gaspar Galaz
Santiago, Chile

Flight Training regrets the error.

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