Letters

II found the Letter to the Editor you published in the Dec. 10 issue by Brian Sheets, “Sport Pilot: A disaster waiting to happen,” to be interesting. I recognize that the letter represents his opinion, however, I think it really missed the point that relates to all flying safety, not just the new Sport Pilot […]

just read “Look and Touch: NTSB alerts pilots to hazards of wing icing, noting that you may have to touch the wing to detect ice,” in the Jan. 28 issue. I don’t know if attempting to take off with an iced-up airplane is coming back into vogue or what. To try and impress upon pilots […]

In the Dec. 10, 2004, issue, Meg Godlewski noted the city of Chicago’s director of planning and development had stated that “There are no parks where airstrips are a compatible use” (“Can planes and parks share space?”) This again shows the ignorance of the Chicago political machine. Several times a year, in the summer, I […]

It’s evident from her article that Ms. Godlewski is all a ga-ga over “The Aviator” (Behind the scenes of “The Aviator,” Feb. 11 issue). I grant her there is much to recommend the film. But as a writer for an aviation publication, I would have expected she’d be at least a little critical of some […]

I just want to correct a slight error in the article written by Meg Godlewski in the Feb. 11, 2005, issue titled “Flight of the Phoenix — 2004 vs. 1965.” Meg states that a C-82 was flown in both films. Although a C-82 was used in the original movie, the 2004 version used a C119K, […]

I was incredibly disappointed in your publication of the Headwinds article in The Southern Aviator, February 2005. (Don’t become a “factor”) The content of this article was, compared to your usual fine content, irresponsible at best. Mr. Elman clearly exhibits at least two hazardous attitudes in his remarks, namely “machoism” and resignation, and as such […]

I enjoyed your article (They don’t know us: Why security agencies fear GA and what we can do about it, February issue) and agree with its premise, except for your assertion that the NRA’s campaign contributions is what makes them influential. NRA campaign contributions pale in comparison to the NRA’s membership. The NRA brings votes […]

The 80-year-old woman was not in zero gravity because gravity was accelerating her downward all the time she was weightless (80-year-old woman sets record as oldest to experience zero gravity, Jan. 14 issue). Objects in orbit are weightless because centrifugal force of rotation is equal and opposite the force of gravity. Physicists don’t want to […]

You mentioned never hearing of an aircraft engine producing one horsepower per cubic inch (Can you have more power and reliability? Jan. 28 issue). How about those Wright compound R-3350s of 3700 hp? These great engines powered Douglas DC-7s, Fairchild C-119s, Lockheed Super Connies and P2V Neptunes, etc. I flew PV2-Vs with these and we […]