When I earned my private ticket in 1960, jet aircraft were still rather rare, even in the San Fernando Valley. My home field, Whiteman Air Park in Pacoima, California, was near Van Nuys and Lockheed airports, both of which were busy commercial fields.
I Learned about Flying from That: Close Call
Key Takeaways:
- The author's early flying career showcased the increasing challenges of managing mixed-aircraft traffic patterns, particularly due to significant speed differences between piston-engine planes and newer jets, and the resulting wake turbulence.
- A harrowing near-collision occurred with an Air Force C-141 Starlifter while flying over the Mojave Desert, forcing the author to execute a rapid evasive descent to avoid impact.
- This incident, combined with the memory of a recent fatal mid-air collision, instilled in the author a commitment to extreme vigilance outside the cockpit, a habit that proved crucial in avoiding numerous other close calls throughout his 50-year flying career.
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