LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Appreciate NDB
MAC, JUST WANTED TO tell you how much I enjoyed the article you wrote in
the latest issue on the NDB approach. I have been a CFII for 40 years and
still get a kick out of doing an occasional NDB approach with my students,
especially if they have the old box in their aircraft that is functional.
Many believe that because it is old technology and no longer a requirement for the instrument rating flight test that they can just ignore using it.
I am one of the last holdouts that you can add to the list of pilots who
consider it a good backup device. It is really not that difficult to perform
an NDB approach, but the stigma still exists of it being a brainteaser. I
also enjoyed reading the history of the GPS development that was part
of your article.
Tom Gilmore, EAA 172193, Stuart, Florida
ENJOYED THE ARTICLE “NDB, the Instrument Approach That Won’t Die.”
The problem I have with GPS is—it appears all of the eggs are going into
a flimsy basket. Too many things can interfere with it—LightSquared, for
example. … You can search the web and find many warnings about the
vulnerability of the GPS system. … As for flat-screen TVs in the cockpit,
it has been proven that we comprehend 85 percent of what we see on
the electronic devices versus hard copy. It is the 15 percent that I miss
that worries me.
Vern Childers, EAA 797084, Moore, Idaho
Don’t Forget Us Experimentals, Mike Busch
AS A LONGTIME MEMBER of EAA, I’d like to compliment Mike
Busch on his excellent articles in Sport Aviation. They are
insightful and useful. … A small addition to those articles,
perhaps in the form of a note in closing, mentioning applicability to experimental aircraft, would be much appreciated
by those of us building or flying non-production aircraft. …
I realize the magazine is now geared primarily to the GA
flying population, but as long as “EAA” is still in the organization’s title, it would give a few of us a warm, fuzzy feeling
to feel included.
Mike McMains, EAA 148230, Waco, Texas
Mike, your point is very well-taken and is something I’ve
been growing increasingly conscious about based on feedback I’ve received from Sport Aviation readers. … I am
somewhat handicapped in this regard by the fact that 100
percent of my aviation background has been with standard
category certificated GA airplanes. But I’m a reasonably
quick study and have made a promise to address the subject
of applicability to and/or differences with experimental aircraft and LSA in my articles and webinars going forward.
I appreciate your feedback.
—Mike Busch
EAA Forums are home to all manner of discussions, from straightforward exchanges about building tips to spirited debates about safety, flying techniques,
and even EAA itself. Frequent forums contributor
steveinindy posed a question a while back that
challenged other users to finish the following sentence:
You might be hopelessly addicted to aviation if…
Here are a few of our favorite responses. Why not add
your own to the list?
If you are looking at places to honeymoon in Hawaii
and the fact that one of the bed and breakfasts
overlooks a major airport makes you want to stay
there more than the stunning sunsets and the lovely
ocean view they advertise. – steveinindy
When someone asks how the weather is outside you
respond with wind speed, ceiling, and visibility.
– Frank Giger
You have more than one homebuilt under
construction in your basement. – Charlie Becker
If your vacation requests for the last week of July go
through 2015. – Glastar N767JA
If your spouse says, “Gee, hon, why don’t we sell our
house and move into the hangar?” –CarlOrton
Aircraft Spruce sends you a Valentine’s Day card. And
they recognize your voice when you call.
– Frank Giger
One of your e-mail addresses is the N number of your
first airplane. –uncleleon
Your wife/girlfriend asks you to talk about anything
else but aviation, even politics. –escapepilot
The auto-correct feature on your phone automatically
changes the word “far” to “FAR.” – steveinindy
If 95 percent of your paycheck as a part-time cashier
for a grocery store (minimum wage) goes straight to
flight lessons … (and) … you and your girlfriend stop
going on dates to buy avgas. – rturiak
You’ve owned 29 airplanes in 30 years, currently
own six, and still read Trade-A-Plane religiously.
– Jim Clark
If all 52 days of annual vacation are spent flying old
helicopters or WWII bombers. – Bell47pilot
To follow this conversation, visit
www.SportAviation.org for a direct link.
