Letters: From our August 2019 issue

Thanks, I think, for the article about the fly-in theater (“Destinations: Fly-In Theater”). I’m delighted it was a positive experience for you, although the comparison to painful dental work is...painful. Next time you’re in New York, go to a few more things. Who knows, one day you may actually like it—and I know your wife will appreciate it! 

Mark Johnson
AOPA 2858086
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Thanks for the great article about Goodspeed. I live just a short 30 minutes from the airport and learned to fly just across the river at Chester Airport. In 2007, my wife and I married right on the airfield at Goodspeed, next to the red building. A pilot in a beautiful amphibian was nice enough to let us take a few dozen pictures. It seems like yesterday, and while the airport is not as busy as it once was, it is so nice to see it being used today. I am currently on a family hiatus from flying, but will be back in the air soon.

Scott Zinkerman
AOPA 4357037
East Hampton, Connecticut

I was delighted to read Dave Hirschman’s article about Goodspeed Airport in the August issue of AOPA Pilot. So excited, I made an audible cheering noise on the train this morning.

Right after college, I worked at Goodspeed Musicals for two summers as a stagehand. During afternoon rehearsals, I would take coffee breaks on the south lawn below the theater in hopes of catching an airplane flying over the bridge on final. Or better yet, watch a seaplane land on the river. I thought, What nerves of steel these pilots must have to want to land at this tiny airport, not to mention clearing a swing bridge just a half a mile away.

That was the late 1990s. Now, 20 years later, I finally have my private pilot certificate and I’ve added 42B to the bucket list of must-visit airports. It would be a treat to fly in and see a show or just hang with old friends.

Thank you so much for shining a light on this corner of the world.

John Ward
AOPA 9530558
Rockville, Maryland

I grew up in Connecticut and your article brought back memories of my old stomping grounds. Across the bridge, my cousin has a cottage overlooking the Connecticut River. When she was younger, his wife could swim the span of the river. Thanks for the flight back in time! —Francis Gibbons, AOPA 1079610, Rockwall, Texas

Leaning in

Nice write-up on Jeff’s airplane (“The Tinkerer’s 195”). Regarding handling qualities, I thought you might enjoy one bit of trivia about the Cessna 195. Like the 165, the wing on the 195 has a straight spar, no dihedral or anhedral, and therefore it does not have the inherent positive roll stability of, say, a 172, that will return to wings level when displaced a couple degrees left or right.

When the air was smooth and the plane trimmed out, I would demonstrate this to other pilots by going hands off, then leaning left or right. The 195 would follow the lean into a shallow turn. By simply leaning in the opposite direction it would return to wings level!

Jim McIrvin
AOPA 7378910
Graham, Texas

Reality check

I wanted to send you a note and thank you for this article and the associated tests you all completed related to the new ForeFlight functionality (“Performance: Hopelessly Optimistic”). I had wondered about this and your guidance will go a long way in helping folks like me truly understand the information and provide the proper additional estimates for safe flight.

Johne Albanese
Kissimmee, Florida

Window or aisle?

I enjoyed Barry Schiff’s article “Proficient Pilot: Window or Aisle?” I also agree with the assessment that “devices” are taking over for personal relationships and adventure. Thank you.

Scott Newell
AOPA 10474717
Missoula, Montana

You’ll be pleased to know that all of the people who come for glider rides can’t get enough of seeing what is outside. —George M. Tamayo, AOPA 943915, Bullhead City, Arizona

Beg to differ

I have to respectfully disagree with Mike Busch’s article “Savvy Maintenance: Double Standard?” It’s hard to find a more discouraged work group than A&P mechanics, whether it be a local FBO or airline mechanics. The low pay, long hours, huge responsibility, the stress of their names in logbooks from work done years ago, people looking to sue for anything they can, or jobs being farmed out overseas—most mechanics I know could make more money at almost anything else and regret they chose this as their career.

The last thing they need is more stress through government intervention. Looking back at how the government has restricted aviation over the past several decades, we need less government involvement, not more. Mechanics by nature, are conscientious, dedicated professionals with common sense and abilities to help them make wise choices. Most general aviation mechanics struggle daily to make ends meet and the thought of paying for recurrent training would be reprehensible. They get recurrent training every day, with each job they perform. It might even drive them to look for work in another field.

I left aviation 20 years ago and work in a medical field now. The difference between a doctor doing recurrent training when he is likely making eight to 10 times more money annually is substantial. Until A&P mechanics receive appropriate pay for their skills and responsibility, it will be a tough sell.

Steve Woodward
AOPA 1284011
Goshen, Indiana

Outstanding article this month in AOPA. I fully support Mike Busch’s idea of additional credentials for mechanics. We business operators hold ourselves to a higher standard than required with International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations and now there is a higher standard for FBOs (ISBAH). NBAA created the certified aviation manager program a couple decades ago.

Busch’s idea would benefit business aviation for sure.

Marty Rollinger
AOPA 4737613
Granger, Indiana

Uber Air

I just received the August 2019 AOPA Pilot magazine and read Thomas B. Haines’ “Waypoints: Hailing an Uber Air” editorial. I’m 71 years old and remember reading Popular Mechanics magazine back in the 1950s wherein it was touted that within 10 years every household would have a flying car in their garage and everyone would commute via same. Didn’t work out now did it? I’m wondering how many 10-year-old boys reading your piece today will say the same thing in 60 years?

The infrastructure and personnel needed to operate such an enterprise boggle the mind and to be able to do it for the price “you might pay for an Uber ride today over the same distance” also seems to me to be pie in the sky. (Remember the helicopter taxis in New York?)

David W. Naumann
AOPA 365353
Northport, Alabama

Hangar Talk

“Unboxing” the new panel was the beginning of the AOPA Sweepstakes RV–10’s transformation. Aerosport Products made the carbon-fiber panel in Ohio, shipped it to Advanced Flight Systems in Oregon where it was loaded with three screens and an Avidyne IFD550, tested, and finally it was sent to AOPA headquarters in Maryland for installation. “This is the moment of elation, anticipation, and infinite possibilities,” said Dave Hirschman, AOPA editor at large, who manages the Sweepstakes RV–10 (see “2020 Sweepstakes: Step One,” p. 36). “It was soon followed by the panicky realization that this was a big job, and there wasn’t much time to do it.”