Aileron flutter

The author describes a flight in a Bishcaddy L164 aircraft that experienced uncontrollable vibrations during descent. After landing safely, they discovered significant damage to the wings, indicating a need for reconstruction. Despite the incident, no one was harmed, and the author remains optimistic about the airplane's repair, highlighting its prior reliability.

Pilot Tip: Smoother Landings

Tom Turner offers advice for achieving smoother landings, emphasizing that a successful landing stems from a good approach. Key elements include maintaining correct speed, proper configuration, and glide-path. Pilots should focus on the runway's far end, adjust control inputs accordingly, and hold back pressure during landing to ensure accuracy and smoothness.

Humble Pie

The first flight of the Mooney, named Dairy Queen, involved extensive preparation and nervous anticipation. Under the guidance of experienced pilot Butch Foster, I struggled with flight controls but gradually gained confidence. Despite feeling overwhelmed by technical details, I managed to land the plane successfully, appreciating the valuable lessons learned during the experience.

CAVU Dreams (2009-02)

February brings improved weather and optimism for flying, with only one day of flight logged this year. The AME school focuses on hands-on training, including aircraft inspections and avionics theory. Students learn critical log entry rules and the importance of independent inspections. Job hunting is underway despite economic challenges, and the need for articles for the Skywriter persists.

The First Year of Merl

Stu Simpson has been flying his 1991 Macair Merlin, "Merl," for a year since his beloved Green Giant was destroyed in a plane crash. He compares the two planes' designs and performance, highlighting Merl's advantages like better visibility, comfort, cargo space, and improved landing options. Despite its challenges, Merl is a rewarding and capable aircraft that has allowed Stu to explore new flying experiences.