Category Archives: Random Musings

New Toys

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Lycoming Sportsman

Pilots are not unique when it comes to the state of euphoria that accompanies getting something new.

Recently, fellow builder and close friend, Greg Schroeder, had the experience of having a brand new Lycoming IO-375 show up on his doorstep. Greg is building a Sportsman 2+2 so this engine was a welcome sight indeed.

He sent a picture from his home base at Spruce Creek in Florida, and then followed it up with a phone call.
Celebrating successes with your friends…priceless!
I know when I was building my airplane, it seemed like every couple of months there was some new trinket showing up to the house, it was like Christmas all year round. Now that I’m out of the building mode, things like a the latest offering from Apple will have substitute. 

I know, I’m a bit materialistic, what can I say?

It has been scientifically proven that when you experience certain things your brain produces the “reward chemical,” called dopamine, which makes you feel good. In this case, obtaining something you desire will cause you to get that “reward.” There are several other less expensive ways to increase dopamine levels, such as diet, exercise, supplements, getting adequate sleep, but none of those seem like as much fun as getting the latest Garmin whiz-bang box for your panel. 



So lets hear it for Greg and may his dopamine rush last forevermore.

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Flying As Art

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the art of flight

Flying As Art
I sometimes like to refer to flying as a form of art. In fact, I’m not alone in the sentiment; many have written beautifully about our craft.

Frankly I love the analogy. It allows your imagination to take over. You might visualize the sky as a canvas and your airplane as the paintbrush.

Like art, your intention, your actions and your movements need to be deliberate and smooth. I think this subtle point is missed by some of our comrades, who ratchet around the sky with the grace of an air hammer.
Many good instructors will teach in a way that instills this artisan spirit in their students and it shows.

I would suggest that even if you aren’t an instructor you can lead by example. It is always apparent when you fly with someone who uses their right brain a little more than the average joe. These folks can “whisper” to the airplane and it responds.

And just because you are making your flying into an art form doesn’t mean that you are just droning around straight and level, never exceeding 30 degrees of bank. On the contrary, opening up the envelope and exploring the less-used dimensions is where the magic really happens. This type of flying can be aggressive and smooth at the same time and that is truly art.

So the next time you break the surly bonds, take a moment to remind yourself that you are creating something beautiful.

If you want to feed your inner-artisan, here’s some recommended reading:

This is your brain on FLYING!

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brain on flying
Many of your will remember the anti-narcotics campaign launched in the late 1980s (If you haven’t seen it, click this link - it’s a classic).

This popular ad really reminds me of how my brain seems to change when I’m under the influence of flying.

Not sure how this happens, but when I fly there is a tangible shift in the gray matter. I get much more focused and all of life’s silly stresses just melt away. Also my senses seem to sharpen; my ability to take in information and process it just gets better.

Why?
Sorry folks, no real science here, but I will offer up a couple of commonsense conclusions on what may be causing this altered-state in my melon.

So this whole thing maybe the result of “going on stage.” Flying is serious stuff and although I’m all about having fun, there is built-in playback-loop in my head that says, “Hey dummy, you’re in an airplane, don’t be an idiot!”

Perhaps it’s just the pure excitement, I’ll call it “a kid-like state of euphoria” from knowing I am doing something super-fun. 

I have noticed it more in my older age, which makes sense as I fly a lot less and so each flight is more thrilling and I’m not as bullet-proof in an airplane as I was in my 20s.

It’s not anxiety or nervous tension, but rather the cerebral equivalent of a tightened muscle, ready to spring into action at any moment.

I can’t say every flight is this way. Many of my professional flights are very sedate. I guess that’s a good sign, at least for the passengers.

So whatever it is that makes my brain focus like a one-armed alligator wrestler, it actually feels good at the same time; a kind of “good stress” that doesn’t leave me drained, but rather elated.

I’m sure there are other endeavors that create this same mental sensation, but flying is my drug of choice.

Just say ‘YES’ to flying!

by Brent Owens and the Partnership for Getting Your Butt in an Airplane
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Oh the lure of a grass runway: One of GA’s Best Kept Secrets

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sod runwayOne my favorite things to do is land on a nice grass runway. There is something about it that almost makes it seem like a guilty pleasure.

No TSA, no metal detectors, no sequestration-impacted-control-towers, and rarely any fences, and certainly no barbed wire! It is flying in the most organic sense of the word.

My first grass airport landing with in El Reno, OK. at Gibson Aviation. There’s a famous cylinder repair facility there and they have a runway right outside of their shop – as it should be. I had 137 hours in my logbook. My vessel was the veritable C-152 and I remember it well. Most of all I remember thinking how cool it was to fly an airplane like the pioneers did it so long ago.

The reality is grass runways have several advantages over their paved counterparts.
  • Less wear on tires and brakes
  • Directional control is easier
  • Touch down are smoother
  • Stopping distances are shorter
  • It’s cool! Eddie Richenbacker and the Red Baron did it that way
  • If its an omnidirectional field you don’t have to mess with those pesky crosswinds
grass strip

my rv loves the grass

Continue reading →

Jet Jocks: How professional pilots can shun recreational aviation

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airline pilots

Ok, many of you may not be familiar with this curious phenomenon. Jet Jock is my pet name for professional pilots that not only don’t fly outside of their day job, they are actually repulsed by the idea.

I first encountered this species of aviator in my youth. The local airport was home base for a large corporate flight department. Their facilities were up on the North end of the field and never in all my years flying did I see any of those pilots. They must have jumped out of their corporate rocket ships and blazed a trail for the lake or the golf course.
 
I remember wondering why they wouldn’t come down and check out all the neat stuff we had going on at the FBO. 
 
Later in my career I ran into this again and found that it is pretty common. Common enough that those of us in my company that still fly GA actually stick together. 
 
That’s not to say that just because a pro pilot isn’t actively flying for pleasure doesn’t mean they don’t want too. Many can’t afford the extravagance, but would love to do it at the first opportunity.  Continue reading →

Timing is everything

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Timing magnetos

Timing is everything
When it comes to aviation, timing is certainly everything. I pondered this as my friend Bob and I worked on timing the magnetos on his yet to be born, RV-10.

You see, the mags have to be aligned and adjusted to precisely fire the spark plugs at just the right time to ignite the fuel air mixture in each cylinder. It is a beautifully orchestrated dance when the timing is on, but when it’s not, it’s a train wreck!
The same can be said for a lot if things in life, but in the field of flying time is vital, it is the fabric of how we move through each and every event.
magneto slick
Accidents
Since virtually every incident or accident is a confluence of multiple events, we note that timing is really the most important player. I refer to Mr. Reason’s Swish Cheese Model. Two airplanes collide due to impeccably bad timing. Fuel exhaustion occurs when we don’t manage our time properly. One hour the weather at the destination is fine, the next it’s not, again time is at play. None of these threats can manifest without time as the vehicle.
Careers
I was at diner recently with a friend who flies for a major airline, and while he had some early breaks and got to “the show” at a relatively young age – he’s still in the right seat after almost two decades – timing. The industry is very cyclical and even if you exploit the cycle well earlier in your career, it does mean you won’t get smacked down later in the game.
Not to be negative, the truth is thousands of pro pilots have stellar careers, but some have careers that mimic a poorly timed 4 cylinder Lycoming, utterly random and very rough. My personal success in aviation is largely attributed to good timing.
magneto lycoming
Life
Certainly the timing of life circumstances has a significant influence on our flying. Marriage, kids, career, health, prosperity and a host of other good or bad things can all create or destroy our flying dreams. Some persevere, other succumb, but it’s really all about timing.
Final Analysis
As we move through space, time can be our friend or it can be our foe. I would suggest we employ the former to the extent possible in our life and in our flying. 
If only it were as scripted and predictable as adjusting those magnetos, of course that might take all the fun out of it.
Maybe this explains why pilots like big watches.
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Why do people stop flying?

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Quitting flyingWhy do people stop flying?

Why do normal, well-adjusted, intelligent people drop flying like a bad habit?

Unfortunately for our industry there are more than a few legitimate reasons:

  • Expense
  • Time
  • Lack of interest
  • Bad experience
  • Accessibility
  • Life circumstances

These can actually overlap to some extent, but let us look at each in detail and maybe explore some mitigation techniques.


Expense

This is a bit of a no-brainer and has received more than its fair share of press over the years as the costs have escalated. The fact of the matter is most recreational activities are getting more expensive. Sometimes it’s a matter of have reasonable expectations about what kind of flying you can do. 


My initial thought when faced with someone who quits flying because it has become incrementally more expensive is to label them as unimaginative. Just because you can’t afford a Cirrus SRxx, is no reason to throw in the towel! I have also encountered folks who give up on aviation because they have a vision of what kind of flying and what kind of aircraft they want to own and those are unobtainable. What happened to renting? What about flying clubs? Partnerships? Again I go back to this lack of imagination theory. (related article)


The psychology is a little more complicated than that. As you find yourself have to “go backwards” in your pursuits or not reaching your goals, the feelings of defeat and resentment make the whole endeavor not worth doing for many folks.


I have seen this many times. It takes a certain personality to over come this human condition and accept your current reality. “Commitment in the face of conflict produces character.” ~ Unknown


Time

This one closely mirrors life circumstances. Maybe you earned a promotion and you don’t have, what you feel to be, adequate time to dedicate to flying.


While I applaud this discipline to give it up if you can’t do it your way, I feel there are many steps you could take manage the time better and/or come up with a safe strategy for maintaining proficiency during this phase of your life; it won’t last forever, nothing does.


Lack of Interest

One of the most honest reasons for quitting. Truly if flying isn’t turning you on then why stay with it.


Even here I would suggest trying a new subset of flying to see if that passion could be reignited. You might be surprised. There are so many facets beyond the “normal” general aviation stereotypes. Many pilots have found a renewed love after an aerobatic lesson, or a glider flight, or trying out floatplanes, etc…


ppg

Bad Experience

This is a hard one. If something happened in an airplane that truly scared you to the point of hanging up your spurs, I’m not sure there is much that can be done.


Most suggest getting right back onto the horse. I might agree, but consider bringing along a trusted pilot or instructor to let you ease back into the groove. This is extremely situational so you’ll have to do some serious soul-searching on this one.


Accessibility

This is an interesting one. Maybe you flew at you local airport for years and now you find the facility closed for whatever reason. This was the case for several Washington, D.C. airports, post 09/11/01. Or you might have relocated and there isn’t a convenient place to fly in your new locale. 


Now you are faced with a long commute. That might be enough to force you to trade flying for golf. Luckily this isn’t common, but airports and businesses do close, especially in small, rural markets. My advice? Gut it out and make the drive. Maybe you’ll cut your flying back to one every two weeks if it’s over an hour each way. Again, many have faced much great hardships and continued to pursue their passions. 


Life Circumstances

Life is never static. There are an unlimited number of situations that might clip your wings. It could be medical, financial, family (personal), or professional. Whatever challenge you face, it is up to you to figure out how to make lemons into lemonade. Unless you have a severe physical limitation, everything else is fixable. If you haven’t seen Jessica Cox, who flies with no arms, check it here for some inspiration!


Conclusion

All of these come under the definition of,  ”if you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen!” Adversity has never stopped anyone from flying. It might delay it or make it take a form that isn’t as glamorous as you would like, but flying is flying!


Overseas

I need to give a shout out to our brethren on the other continents. In almost every country, besides the U.S., flying is a much more difficult proposition.


If you feel stressed about how much sacrifice is required, you might consider how good we have it here.


Final Recommendation

Maybe take a break from your relationship with flying and come back to it fresh. If it got into your blood, you’ll be back I promise!

Do you have any experience or thoughts on the matter? Comment. We’d love to hear from you!

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Happy Sixth Month Anniversary: An aviation blog in the first half year

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aviation blog

Today marks the sixth month anniversary of this fine aviation blog.

Here’s some fun facts:
There have been over 40,324 page views, 198 posts, 200+ comments, and 196 subscribers since I began the blog last September (2012). Hey, if you aren’t a subscriber, press here to get signed up.

All along the goal of this blog has been to provide value to aviation enthusiasts of all types. In the process I have learned about subjects that I might not otherwise be exposed; met several new friends; and continue to have a blast with this venue.

The next six months I hope to continue down the same path, but with some additional value-added components. I am continuing to work on the How To Be a Pilot ebook and some other stuff that will hopefully be well received.

Like I have said before, if there is anything I can do that you would find helpful, please let me know. I consider this your aviation blog. Just email me or post it in the comments.
by Brent Owens                                                                   Subscribe to this flying blog

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How To Be a Pilot ebook: Update #1

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how to become a pilot

How To Be a Pilot ebook: update #1
I’m still cranking away at the ebook on how to be a pilot. It has been fun so far. Because it’s an ebook there’s an immense amount of flexibility, which really allows you to be as creative as you want. Plus it will let me distribute it for free – something that was impossible before the internet.

I am focusing on the basics, but I also want to incorporate some of the nuances that they don’t tell you about in the mainstream ‘learn to fly’ publications. All this and keeping it at a readable length will be a challenge.

I have five out of nine chapters in rough draft, emphasis on rough, and some of the template and artwork are done. My goal is to have it completed within the next six months, but we’ll see.

Because I’m not plugged into the Sport Pilot world, I will be reaching out to some of my friends who have experience in that area for help.

Overall, I hope it adds value to the newcomer and I hope you will share it.

by Brent Owens                                                                   Subscribe to the mailing list

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