In a message dated 9/19/2004 8:59:17 AM Central Standard Time,
marv@lancaironline.net writes:
You
mentioned that you liked the way I fly a "high speed pass".
This is a very simple maneuver until you reach the point that your
nose is
still up at 45 degrees or more and you're running out of
airspeed. Don't be
looking at your AOA for any help.
And
please, don't even start one of these unless you are comfortable
with
stalls, stall avoidance, spin prevention, and unusual attitude
recovery in
your airplane.
Mark,
Stalls - I was always uncomfortable.
Stall avoidance - I have devoted much of my learning experiences to this
concept. I still need all the help I can get. From time to time I use slow
flight (at reasonable altitudes), my butt and the AOA to remind myself of how
pre-stall feels, looks and smells (oh, that's me that smells).
During certain high speed maneuvers I am happy to maintain sufficient lift
reserve to avoid "surprise!"
Spin prevention - See above -- I don't trust my small-tailed hand-built
(maybe the left wing doesn't match the right) lawn dart to recover from some
real-flight and weirdly-loaded (load unsecured to boot) condition not
simulated in "practice."
Unusual attitude - Yep, I've got one of those.
If you look at Lee's statistics again, you won't see
where exacting AOA
control was the issue. You will see where pilots
were surprised by sudden
inadvertent conditions.
The NTSB will
never indicate "failure to maintain AOA" as a cause.
Well, the outside observer/witness only observed the symptoms/results,
never the AOA or other cockpit contained cause. I only know this - a
stall close to the ground, usually done in a turn, has permanent irreversible
consequences and you don't get to try it again. So far I have successfully
stayed away from hearing "Angle Angle Push" (except sometimes at
touchdown).
<<<<<
You're invited up to New England anytime.
>>>>>
Thanks, I still would like to learn some stuff closer to the edge of the
envelope - stuff I don't care to self-learn. I don't like to hear myself say
"Oops!"
Scott
PS: It seems our opinions differ a bit on the usefulness of
AOA. Of course, unlike the infamous John Lear, I learned to fly (such as
it is) later in life, taught by young civilian CFIs making time until they could
step into a regional jet. I read a lot though.