I agree with Bodhi's original post. Conflicting sources are a real b*tch, and cyber aviation experts abound in the AH community. Having been formally schooled in research, both historical and legal, I recommend that before anyone preaches the gospel according to (insert author here),check, evaluate and weigh your source(s). Simply taking Joe "Aviation" Authors word for it is irresponsible and will irrepairably label you an uninformed amatuer if proven wrong. Personally, I try to only use proven, reputable sources (both primary and secondary) for my research and even at those I sometimes cast a skeptical eye. I don't want the first book I publish to be looked on as an poorly researched and documented POS. If you present me with a piece of information, be prepared for me to ask where you got it, with the authors name,publisher, page numbers, I'll ask if I can have access to it if controlled, etc. I will then do what I suggested above...evaluate and weigh the source and then either substaniate it or refute it and then I can tell you if I concur or if not, why not.
I must admit however I do get caught up in some of those ridiculous Ch. 1 discussions regarding various airplanes. Sometimes I have a source nearby to refer to, but sometimes I do not. I am relying on my memory in those cases, a thing I should not do. I do apologize as I know better. Sometimes I see people argue information that is blatently wrong. I don't think I will ever enter a discussion on "flight characteristics" of any plane because never having flown one under similiar circumstances, I couldn't make and informed and accurate comment. Being a licensed pilot in general does not qualify either. Unless you fly the plane in question regularly, under similiar circumstances you can't either. All planes are engineered, maintained and fly differently. Sure the basics are similiar but the quirks are what'll kill you if you don't know.
I work in the charter aviation industry as an A&P mechanic, quality control, and I help maintain the vast number of manuals that are required to keep these airplanes in the air. As Bodhi can testify to, having outdated and inaccurate information can be unsafe, illegal, and if warranted, criminal.
In this forum, I have seen some very good information for reinforcing cases posted in various topics; kudos to those of you who go the extra mile to get accurate information. While I cannot be considered an expert by any means in my research area, I am working on achieving that status, so if you must, fire away.
