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Peter Garrison, Contributing Editor

Published: Dec 08, 2009
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Peter Garrison, Contributing Editor

Harvard-educated in English, Peter Garrison is a self-taught aerodynamicist whose writing concentrates on what makes airplanes work and how they can be improved, and on the factors, both mechanical and human, that sometimes cause them to crash.

When no production airplane satisfied Peter's desire for range and efficiency, he built his own and called it Melmoth. He flew it to Europe, Japan and South America. Melmoth was destroyed on the ground in 1982 when it was struck by an out-of-control airplane, and Peter spent 20 years building his four-place Melmoth 2. With 4,000 hours, Peter has a single and multiengine commercial license, instrument rating, and Learjet type, helicopter, seaplane, glider, gyroplane and hot-air balloon ratings.

Since 1968 Flying readers have been looking to Peter for technical precision and erudite writing. His work also appears in other magazines, including Condé Nast Traveler and Air & Space, and he is the author of several books. He writes and sells aviation software and consults on aircraft design questions.

The blend of theoretical understanding and practical experience Peter brings to his monthly Technicalities and Aftermath columns provides Flying readers with technical and operational information that is useful to aviators of all skill levels flying in all situations.

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mikeywhite's picture

This is a comment on Mr. Garrison's article, Portals of Discovery" in the January, 2011 paper mag. version about Kelley Johnson. Mr. Garrison states, "...an H-tailed twin with two pusher engines on its wings...". Without having access to the text of the Paper, by examination of the figure, that last configuration appears to me, to have one engine mounted in the fuselage, behind the pilot, driving two pusher props. The engine access panel and exhaust stacks are clearly visible in the picture and the wing fairings around the prop shafts are not big enough to house engines. Interestingly, all three configurations look very P-38ish.

Flingwing's picture

Odd Bird From Down Under

Peter,

I have known several pilots who have flown this airplane as it is being used in the Mid East as an observation platform. As far as I know, the airplane has only been marketed as a replacement for some of the uses that helicopters are serving in as mentioned in your article. . I believe this is because the cost of obtaining it and operating it are too high for it to compete with any other comparable two place fixed wing aircraft. As you said, it is a niche design. It just has not found it's niche. I do not believe it will find a home among the pipeline surveyors, reindeer counters or border patrollers mentioned at the end of your article either. As both a helicopter and airplane pilot with years of experience using both, my opinion that the Seeker will only succeed when the manufacturer begins offering fully equipped airplanes tailored to the specific niches for which it is suited and the base price of the airplane is more in line with it's limited load hauling capabilities. At the right price, this airplane is well suited to fire fighting and fire patrol, vertical and oblique aerial photography, extended search and rescue patrols, radio traffic reporting, etc. Ask yourself a few questions. Is there an existing dealer organization? Are there any flying examples of the equipped aircraft for an interested buyer to study? or an operator to talk with? Is there a viable marketing plan in place with incentives for multiple purchases? Is there a full time staff with any sales experience marketing the airplane? Other than for military contracts, what is the manufacturing ability of the parent company to produce american versions of the airplane? I appreciate the information on insufficient power, flight with the upper portion of a door removed, etc. Also, they have a web site connected to the manufacturers site in Australia. I would have appreciated more information on the american company and less on the australian company's history.

blobusus's picture

While sitting through a long boring lecture in a stuffy hot room, my mind naturally went to Peter Garrison. How would Peter design the ideal hand operated fan? The one I was issued was a simple piece of cardboard about nine inches square with popsicle stick glued to it. Surely this is not the optimum solution. What sort of layout would direct the most air with the least effort?

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