Watched a stearman ground loop today

[Seanaldinho]

Well said Dicho

[Dago]

Never said I knew anything, much less everything.

In fact, just the opposite. So when you have original material that goes beyond whatever personal chip is on your shoulder for the last 6 or so years, let me know.

No chip really, just don't like seeing wrong information put out there, and I really do hate to say it, but you have done it more than once.

[Golfer]

No chip really, just don't like seeing wrong information put out there, and I really do hate to say it, but you have done it more than once.

And I'll do it again.  Sort of the nature of imperfection.

[colmbo]

I've got a little over 600 hours in 4-engine WWII bombers -- and I'm a bit envious of Tupac.  I wish I would have had the start in aviation that he has had.  I think he is doing quite well and seems to be progressing in the right direction as far as the type training/type of flying he is getting/doing.

Just before one of my first lessons I watched a guy walk into a spinning propellor.

As a fire-fighter I laid in an avgas filled ditch for about 20 minutes while helping to extract the mangled body of a friend after he crashed his Starduster on takeoff.

Another young, cocky, skilled guy I knew died when he hit a moutain side in weather.

I share some of the worry that Golfer has expressed.  I have seen guys, not just in aviation, that were just a bit too cocky -- just didn't seem to take things quite serious enough -- and ended up getting hurt or killed.

Tupac, I'm not saying I think you're doomed to disaster.  I think you'll go far -- but sometimes I wonder if you really, truly take "it" serious enough.  It's probably just the awkwardness of trying to communicate with the written word.  Remember, I have more 4-engine WWII bomber time than  you have total time yet I envy where you are at in your aviation career.

Now go do a couple no-gyro back course approaches.

<S>

[eagl]

Speaking of youth and aviation...

One reason why the USAF generally bans cameras in the cockpit is that even with the best intentions, pilot judgement is often affected by the camera.  The mere presence of the camera affects the decision making process, whether it is to show off, to avoid looking stupid, or to simply document the flight.  This is even more so with young pilots.

AETC outright bans cameras in the cockpit without MAJCOM DO approval (2-star general).  Air Combat Command delegates this, but cameras can be restricted at any level of the chain of command which halts the ability for lower level commanders to authorize camera use.

If there is any part of Tupac's flying habits that slightly concerns me, it is the use of cameras and documenting/showing flights.  it has nothing to do with his flying skills, and everything to do with the well documented fact that camera use affects the decision making process.  Mere presence of the camera is an influence on the entire flight.  This may have some positive impact as a pilot on camera may attempt to do everything skillfully and by the book, but even then sometimes the desire to make things go right can actually lead to ignoring signs that things are in fact NOT going right.  For example, when trying to film a perfect landing, a pilot may press forward with a badly flown pattern in an effort to save it, rather than documenting an aborted landing.  The desire to fly perfectly in front of the camera would lead directly to a very poor decision to continue a bad pattern, regardless of intent.

Again, this isn't just my opinion, it's documented in many many mishap reports.  I strongly recommend against "young" pilots filming their flights unless they have an experienced observer in the plane who can call knock-it-off or even just turn off the camera when things get screwy.  But I don't have a cut-off line on when it might be ok for a pilot to start filming, simply because it's impossible to judge when a pilot has developed the judgement to do the right thing regardless of outside influences.  I've seen enough 1000 hr fighter pilots kill themselves through bad decisions that it's impossible to tell who will or will not be influenced enough to get themselves killed.  So although I personally chafe at the restrictions I faced regarding cameras in the cockpit, on reflection it's hard to disagree with both the rules and the reasoning behind the rules.

So that bugs me a bit when I see Tupac or any other young pilot posting videos of their aerial adventures.  They're often harmless but history has shown the mere presence of a camera in the plane can have a huge negative impact on pilot decision making.

[Dichotomy]

good one eagl.  Hadn't thought about that.  Thanks 

[RTR]

Here's  $.02 worth from a guy that has been in aviation for over 30 years, both flying and fixing.

Eagl is spot on about cameras in the cockpit. Have seen it more times than I can count, and not just self mounted cameras put there by the pilot to film his adventure, but cameras taken and used by friends to document the awesome ride. It can change the decision making process, as Eagl has said, and many times in a very negative way.

This may come as a surprise to most who do not fly here, and not a surprise to those who do. I agree with just about everything Golfer has posted.

Tupac is in a time in his flying career where he is more at risk than when he was a student pilot. He is learning new things...rapidly and having great successes at flying. The problem is, and it is something we all have gone through, is he sees these successes as great flying ability. For example, crosswind landings. I am sure if Tupac went back and reviewed everything he did on those landings right now, he would find nothing wrong with them. Give him a few hundred more hours and he may wonder why the hell he did it that way.

I look back at some of the flying and decisions I made years ago and sometimes wonder how it is that I am still here. Stuff I would never even attempt now were commonplace at 300 hours. Hell even stuff I did at 1500 hours are a little sketchy to me know. The thing is, I got away with it over and over and therefor saw nothing wrong with what I was doing. I was lucky.

Golfer is trying to enlighten Tupac and warn him of the dangers of complacency and over confidence. Maybe he's using a bigger stick than he needs, but I fully understand Golfers concern and I support his effort, it is one of concern.

Most new pilots hit that "indestructible" phase from around 500 hours to 1500 or so. Tupac, who is obviously a talented and driven young pilot seems to have hit that benchmark a bit early from my perspective. Not surprising given his drive to succeed. It really is a time for reflection and maybe a slower pace.

Tupac, I hope you take all this for what it is worth. From what I can see it is all goodstuff. You know if you were sitting at the local watering hole with a few of us old farts you would be getting the same speech interlaced with all the dumb things we did early on. The fact that we survived some of our dumber moments is most assuredly luck or some kind of divine intervention. Many do not.

Flying isn't about great hands and feet, it's about knowing how, when, and more specifically why you employ them. You can teach a chimpanzee to fly, you can't teach him to survive it though. Fly with your noodle, don't let pride and bravado operate the controls.

Lastly, flight manuals.  Don't believe everything they tell you in regards to performance. If the FM says you can land in a 25kt crosswind at a certain weight I am sure you could under perfect conditions on a standard day. How often do you see that?
Just because the FM says the plane is capable of something doesn't make it good idea.

At any rate Tupac, glad you are on your way. Try to take some of this in, it's all good stuff. We really are on your side:)

cheers, and fly safe!

RTR

[Shuffler]

I don't think anyone here means any harm. Folks with more experience are just trying to help the younger folks to keep a straight head. Sometimes it may come out a bit harsh but if it helps to curtail the loss of one life.... it's worth it.

If you ever just mark off an experienced persons thoughts you only hurt yourself.

[bagrat]

none of you knows nothin bout bein safe an humble in a plane, til you've constructed a 2 foot tower from raw noodle and reeses cups in a aircraft safety course.

[Puma44]

none of you knows nothin bout bein safe an humble in a plane, til you've constructed a 2 foot tower from raw noodle and reeses cups in a aircraft safety course.

Really?  None of us?