Linkage

Opening the June 2013 issue, I was met with a lovely bit of nostalgia. The photo of the Link Trainer on page 5 could have been of the unit in which I took my first flight training, the summer of 1967. At the University of Illinois’ Institute of Aviation, I spent two hours in one of these before getting into an aircraft (a Champ 7FC). Over the summer of instruction, we went back to the Link again and again to hone skills. I had 11.2 hours total in the Link, and 30 hours total in the aircraft, when I got my license. I’m not sure how many hours of Link and aircraft time I had before I was allowed to fly visually. Of the 7 hours in the aircraft prior to solo, nearly half were behind polarized glasses and windscreen plastic.

Key Takeaways:

• Readers shared nostalgic experiences with early flight simulators like the Link Trainer, emphasizing their crucial role in foundational flight training.
• A debate on the "downwind turn" phenomenon distinguished between pilot error in constant wind conditions and actual wind shear in gusty environments, with the editor promising further research.
• The safety aspects of aircraft ownership were discussed, highlighting that while familiarity can be beneficial, it also risks complacency, underscoring the importance of maintenance.
• There was a keen reader interest in future articles on utilizing cockpit gadgets and tablets, such as ForeFlight, for enhanced flight operations.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.