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gwalston
,
TX
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Displaying 1-5 of 8
Air Force Academy Buying 25 Cirrus SR20 Trainers
from gwalston
wrote 1 year 44 weeks ago
While buying Cirrus immediately after sale of the company to a Chinese firm isn't the smartest thing USAF has done, I am interested in the claims that Capt Ray made regarding the retention rates of AFA officers versus other sources of commission holders like AFROTC or OTS. Is it fact or opinion? Sounds like Capt Ray has some sour grapes about the AFA cadets having a distinct advantage. While they do, there is a rigorous screening process that permits the Air Force to select the best high school graduates each year and grow them through a grueling academic and physical program to become superior graduates, much like Annapolis or West Point. I was an AFROTC graduate who recognized that an academy graduate has a natural leg up for the career, but I also recognized how hard these great young people had worked to get there. As far as an aircraft for the Academy is concerned, a glass cockpit, composite aircraft as a starting point for the flying business is exactly what I'd expect for the aviators of the future. Whether that was a Cirrus built in Minnesota or a Cessna 400 built in Kansas, I'm sure they have a great aircraft to start a career.
Surprising Cause of Oshkosh F-16 Runway Overrun
from gwalston
wrote 1 year 11 weeks ago
I read that he didn't use the speed brakes as he was concerned that his nose high attitude would cause contact with the runway. Having flown the F-16, you can grind the lower speed brakes with too high angle on rollout, but that would seem preferable to rolling off the pavement. The F-16 is notoriously bad off the pavement. Almost every accident in the grass results in a sheared nose wheel and sometimes a rollover (one I am very familiar with as a pilot in my unit tried that and the crash team had to use an abrasive saw to get him out of the cockpit.). I noted in the video that he was able to keep the aircraft on the runway until the end and I didn't see tire smoke from max braking...
Surprising Cause of Oshkosh F-16 Runway Overrun
from gwalston
wrote 1 year 11 weeks ago
I read that he didn't use the speed brakes as he was concerned that his nose high attitude would cause contact with the runway. Having flown the F-16, you can grind the lower speed brakes with too high angle on rollout, but that would seem preferable to rolling off the pavement. The F-16 is notoriously bad off the pavement. Almost every accident in the grass results in a sheared nose wheel and sometimes a rollover (one I am very familiar with as a pilot in my unit tried that and the crash team had to use an abrasive saw to get him out of the cockpit.). I noted in the video that he was able to keep the aircraft on the runway until the end and I didn't see tire smoke from max braking...
Howard Pardue Dies in Bearcat Crash
from gwalston
wrote 1 year 6 weeks ago
Howard was an aviation living legend. A distinguished pilot who put his money in the thing he most loved. I couldn't believe the comments by elmog. Some guys should think things over before typing their completely out of bounds thoughts. For Howard, Fair Skies and Following Winds.
Mooney M20
from gwalston
wrote 1 year 6 weeks ago
My 83 "J" was the most enjoyable aircraft I have owned. Mooney got it right with the cowling and internal air management keeping the cylinder head temps very manageable even in high and hot situations. It was great to cruise at 8500 feet at 160 knots on 10 gph and that was rich of peak flying.
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