Aviation Questions And Comments

Referring to your September 2008 article, "Batteries Not Required"-a nice review of cross-country basics-I have a question and two comments. The question refers to the flight log: Why is "1.2" in the logs Time box when the block time was 1+35 or 1.6? One comment involves missing a possible teaching opportunity by not discussing MOAs, the planned route and altitude, and the floor of the Lemoore C MOA. The other comment involves the sidebar, "Lifts Horizontal Component," which discusses steep turns and includes a quote from an FAA publication on the need to create additional lift in a turn. You then add your conclusion that "Increasing angle of attack, of course, increases the stall speed." This is not the message I would want my students to gain from your article. Your statement is not true in the commonly practiced stall entries from 1G straight and level flight. There the increasing angle of attack doesnt "increase" stall speed. In truth, even in the situation under discussion-stalls while turning-it is the increased load factor that increases the stall speed. It can be argued that increasing angle of attack does often increase load factor (pull ups, turns, etc.) but wouldnt it be preferable to instead conclude that stall speed increases as a result of increasing load factor? That is a true statement always.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Corrections were issued for a "cross-country basics" article, clarifying that increased load factor, not angle of attack, primarily increases stall speed, and acknowledging a flight log typo.
A reader challenged the notion of water as "dangerous" terrain, arguing it can be a safer emergency landing option than land if pilots are thoroughly prepared for ditching with proper gear and practice.
The maintenance of older aircraft necessitates significant owner involvement, proactive "catch-up" maintenance, and frequent flying to address potential historical gaps in care and ensure long-term airworthiness.

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Referring to your September 2008 article, “Batteries Not Required”-a nice review of cross-country basics-I have a question and two comments. The question refers to the flight log: Why is “1.2” in the logs Time box when the block time was 1+35 or 1.6?

One comment involves missing a possible teaching opportunity by not discussing MOAs, the planned route and altitude, and the floor of the Lemoore C MOA.

The other comment involves the sidebar, “Lifts Horizontal Component,” which discusses steep turns and includes a quote from an FAA publication on the need to create additional lift in a turn. You then add your conclusion that “Increasing angle of attack, of course, increases the stall speed.”

This is not the message I would want my students to gain from your article. Your statement is not true in the commonly practiced stall entries from 1G straight and level flight. There the increasing angle of attack doesnt “increase” stall speed.