Milking It: How to Extract Every Last Bit From Airplane and Pilot

The aircraft’s state of utility must be measured only once before a flight, but the aviator’s is a moving target.

Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 08:55 AM ET

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FLYING contributor Ben Younger says a flight from New York to Birmingham, Alabama, is about the limit for his Beech Bonanza as far as nonstops go. [Courtesy: Ben Younger]

Key Takeaways:

The pilot uses his Beech Bonanza to maximize utility and efficiency for travel, but quickly realizes his flying skills have diminished after a five-week break, especially during a challenging approach.
A demanding return flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), compounded by external stressors and culminating in a critical error during the approach, highlights the unforgiving nature of real-world aviation.
The article emphasizes that unlike an aircraft's fixed operational limits, a pilot's proficiency and readiness are a dynamic "moving target" requiring constant self-evaluation and vigilance throughout the entire flight.

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For my birthday this year my buddies transported my bike down to Alabama for a race weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. That’s Brooklyn to Birmingham. Pulling a trailer, it takes more than 17 hours. I know, as I’ve made the trip more than a few times myself. Drinking interstate coffee, eating caloric garbage, filling the tanks every 300 miles, sleeping fitfully at truck stops when fatigue finally overwhelms you. I chipped in for gas, but they did all the heavy lifting.

So, how did I get down there? I’m sure you can guess.

Ben Younger

Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.