Going To Extremes

Absolutely excellent article ("Extreme-Altitude Hazards") by Jim Lockridge in the May issue summarizing issues that confront pilots in the high-altitude environment. I cant recall ever seeing a better or more thorough summary of the topic, and Ive been reading aviation publications for a long time. This subject has been of particular interest to me for over 30 years, after I flew a sailplane to 41,000 feet in a mountain wave west of Boulder, Colo.

Key Takeaways:

• The first letter praises an article on extreme-altitude hazards, recounting a pilot's high-altitude glider flight experience, emphasizing the critical need for redundant oxygen systems and thorough safety briefings due to the inherent dangers.
• The second discussion clarifies the concept of adverse yaw, differentiating its primary causes in flight (outer wing drag) versus on the runway (aileron drag), and validates a pilot's technique of using aileron-induced drag for yaw control during tailwheel takeoffs and landings.

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