The author recounts an incident where a burning smell during takeoff led him to critically re-evaluate his initial hesitation to land, highlighting the importance of immediate, conservative decision-making in aviation.
He reflects on his own momentary lapse and other pilots' "stupid" decisions, emphasizing the need for pilots to always prioritize safety and assess risks thoroughly, despite pressure or lack of obvious danger.
The mysterious burning smell was ultimately traced to a mouse nest on the engine, serving as a reminder that unforeseen environmental factors can create serious flight hazards.
When the poet Robert Burns wrote, “the best laid schemes o’ mice and men, gang aft a-gley,” what he meant was that things often don’t work out the way we intend.
The well laid plan was for Robert Goyer to fly up to Columbia County to take some pictures of me with my Cardinal. That was the plan.
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