Letters from our February 2020 issue

Replying to the “They Said It Couldn’t Be Done” article in February 2020 AOPA Pilot: You missed the Gossamer Albatross; it was the first human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel.

I think the Christmas Bullet (#47) sould not have been included, since it couldn’t actually fly. It broke apart immediately after its first takeoff, killing the test pilot.

Greg Shonle
Boulder, Colorado
AOPA 00944813

I’m responding to “They Said It Couldn’t Be Done.” I believe it did miss one. It was the fully licensed Reid Flying Submarine of the 1950/1960s. 

Bruce D. Reid
AOPA 5078262
Titusville, Florida

My nomination for top of the list of notable aircraft designs is the X–15, the one that’s at the top of my list for great stuff to interpret as a docent at the Aerospace Museum of California. My summary of scope is that the X–15 flight research program was “Giant Leap Number 2 in flight research,” where number 1 was the Wright Flyer and number 3 was Apollo.

Paul Raveling
Docent at the Aerospace Museum of California
AOPA 562013
Gold River, California

Kid tested

I enjoyed Catherine Cavagnaro’s latest article in AOPA Pilot (“Kid Tested”). Not as technical as some, but spot on. I had been there many times with unhappy family members and with students or passengers who had to do the “technicolor burp.” My son once did that nine times on a six-hour trip, then said “I’m hungry” when we got there.

Ben Lampton
AOPA 1389424
Macon, Georgia

Ugly outside, delightful inside

Nice review (“Ugly Outside, Delightful Inside”). I have 4,500 hours, mostly Cub, Husky, 185 Skywagon, Stearman, and now Cirrus. We used to mock the training wheel guys, until for extended travel I bought a Cirrus. Now if a destination has a 30-knot or more crosswind, it is not even a minor worry. In the tailwheels, no way. I think Dave Hirschman is correct and hope CubCrafters is successful.

Jim Horan
AOPA 798618
North Easton, Massachusetts

Lifesaving missions

The purpose of this message is to thank Natalie Bingham Hoover for her wonderful writing, as published monthly in AOPA Pilot. Her February column, “Lifesaving Missions,” was especially powerful. I appreciate the both the simplicity and profound impact of the question she asks pilot candidates: “why?”

Jim MacKay
AOPA 840591
Georgia

Ohio aviation history

Although I moved away 50 years ago, I grew up in a little town 10 miles east of Wapakoneta in the 1950s and 1960s and still have family living there (“Ohio Aviation History, from A to W”). I went to Neil Armstrong’s homecoming in Wapak that included a parade with Bob Hope and other celebrities. It was summer and the parking was in some large grass fields near the county fairgrounds. A huge thunderstorm came through, and they spent hours towing cars out of the mud. Of course there were plenty of tractors available. It was a very big deal for a small farming community.

I also remember going to a family reunion in 1970 where my great-uncle told everyone he taught Armstrong to fly (and produced his logbooks to prove it!). I would love to find where the logbooks are.

Civil aviation was very much part of life there when I grew up and Armstrong had a lot of opportunity to get involved. Just around my town of Waynesfield (population 250), there were three grass strips, two Cessna 172s, one Piper Cherokee 160, and two Cubs. The town doctor had a Twin Bonanza based in Lima, and his son (my best friend) got his private certificate during high school. I would go with my older brother who flew freight out of Lima and we dug an Archer out of the snow to fly down to see Apollo 13 go off. I went off to college but finally got my ticket in 1978.

It was the best of times.

Ren Babcock
AOPA 658141
Raleigh, North Carolina

Spread your wings

Mark Baker’s President’s Position in the February 2020 AOPA Pilot (“Spread Your Wings”) was spot on. There are many flying organizations that allow pilots of all flavors to “spread their wings” and use their gift of a pilot certificate to its maximum potential. Several were featured in the column, and many dozens more have graced the pages of AOPA Pilot over the years. 

One conspicuous absence to date is also a group that has worked closely with AOPA for many years. The Flying Physicians Association is a dedicated group of physician pilots who have two passions in their lives; and our organization gives them the only forum in which to learn about both. We have regional and national meetings/fly-ins during which we teach each other with rich, varied continuing medical education lectures, and expand our knowledge of aviation safety with evening discussions. Many of our members are multiple-thousand-hour pilots with rich, valued experiences, and a wide variety of aircraft from 172s to MU–2s.

We estimate there are about 4,000 physician pilots in our country, and only a small percentage of them share this valuable experience. We would welcome all of these flyers who would like to share their passion for flying and medicine. Check us out on fpadrs.org. 

Dr. John R. Mulvey
FPA President Elect
AOPA 7045797
Elkton, Maryland

Head in the clouds

I agree with Dave Hirschman (“Dogfight: Head in the Clouds”). I’ve experienced vertigo twice in real weather, once while solo. It is at the very least an uncomfortable feeling and for me reduces self-confidence and replaces it with a feeling of dread.

Foggles prevent seeing the horizon but shadows cast across the panel, I think, still contribute to an awareness of aircraft attitude that keep “the leans” at bay.

Ken Welch
AOPA 464570
Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

ERRATA

“Ohio Aviation History from A to W” (February 2020 AOPA Pilot) incorrectly identified the Gemini mission commanded by Neil Armstrong. It was Gemini VIII.

“Pilots: Courtland Savage” (February 2020 AOPA Pilot) misidentified the manufacturer of the CRJ 700 and 900. It is Bombardier.

In “Postcards: Flying in Italy” (March 2020 AOPA Pilot), a caption incorrectly identified the location of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is off the west coast of Italy. Additionally, accompanying photography should be credited to Mary Michael, and the Italian Air Force Museum in Bracciano is 25 miles north of Rome, not 15.

“Island Adventure” (March 2020 AOPA Pilot) incorrectly stated the number of bison originally on the island; there were 14.

AOPA Pilot regrets the errors.

We welcome your comments. Send letters by mail to Editor, AOPA Pilot, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701 or by email ([email protected]). Letters may be edited for length and style before publication.