LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Questions About Savvy Aviator
in the January Issue
I JUST READ MIKE Busch’s “Flight-Test Profiles” in the January
issue. While I think that I understand and agree with what he
says in that article, the two figures have me confused.
Fig. 1, Ignition Stress Test—This figure shows seven graphs
of EGT and CHT versus time; however, the table just to the left
of the figure only identifies six cylinders.
Fig. 2, Mixture Distribution Test—The caption states: #3
peaks at 13. 4 gph (leanest); #4 peaks at 13. 1 gph; and #1/3/5/6
peak at 12. 9 gph (richest). Note that #3 is mentioned twice but
#2 is not mentioned at all. (This could be due to a typographical error.)
It would seem that either I am missing something or there
is something not quite correct with these figures. I have been
reading your articles for a long time and find them interesting
and helpful.
John Lawton, EAA 123731, Seville, Ohio
Fig. 1 shows six EGTs plus one TIT. The TIT trace was in the
legend I submitted to EAA, but was apparently inadvertently
removed, and I did not catch that detail during my review of their
proof. The Fig. 2 caption is a typo; it should have said 1/2/5/6. That
one was my fault; it was wrong in the manuscript I submitted to
EAA, and I guess I missed that one during my review, too. Good
catches!—Mike
Airport Car of the Month
Nathan Able, EAA 633412, Fort Worth, Texas
RECENTLY, ON A MULTIENGINE
time-building excursion, I flew
into North America’s highest airport, Leadville, Colorado (LXV).
The people who run the LXV
FBO are some of the nicest people
I have met. They greeted me at
the plane and helped me fuel the
plane, and by the way, they had
the cheapest fuel around that
area. Their courtesy car is an old
Jeep Cherokee 4x4 that has seen
better days, but it still runs like a
top. With “Airport Courtesy Car”
printed in big reflective letters on
the side, they make sure you don’t
lose it in the streets of the big
town of Leadville. Don’t forget to
get your certificate for flying into
Leadville; it’s something to put
on your wall.
Have you seen/driven a unique airport car? If so, send a photo and
information to editorial@eaa.org.
Like a lot of us, Jon Ferguson was eagerly awaiting the film Red Tails, chronicling the fictionalized adventures of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. When he posted a
reminder of the release on EAA Forums, he started a thread
that’s full of all manner of opinions, speculation, and
armchair movie reviews. Here are some highlights:
There was a special screening here in Ft. Worth last
night. Three Tuskegee Airmen were the honored
guests. ... (They) said that the depiction of the
training was spot-on. - CarlOrton
I saw the preview at Oshkosh. ...have to say I sure
liked what I saw. - Sonex1517
George Lucas has produced a companion
documentary to Red Tails called Double Victory.
This tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen in true
Since it is coming out of Hollywood I imagine it will
be overly dramatized. The urban legend is that the
Red Tails never lost a bomber on their watch. The
records show 25 bombers were shot down under
their escort, which I think is still a very respectable
record. - Mick Youmans
Not the best made movie. Well over a hundred digital
artists and a lot less pilots. ... Still, a great show and
fun to see so much aviation and a few real planes
and a tribute to the guys who were so denigrated at
the time. - flyingriki
Finally, aviation movies are back! I just know that it’s
going to be awesome. - Holyize
I saw the movie last night. Brief review: Not good.
- DanChief
I really can’t understand the negative vibe I’m
getting here. I saw Red Tails on Saturday afternoon
and loved it. Bottom line is that it’s a decent aviation
movie and worth going to see in the theater.
- Treetop Flyer
Red Tails was crap. This movie did as much
blasphemy to the Army Air Corps, all escort pilots,
the Tuskegee Airmen, and the ETO as the movie Pearl
Harbor did to the early war in the Pacific and Europe.
- Hiperbiper
To follow this conversation, visit
www.SportAviation.org for a direct link.
