“You did not get ‘into’ a fighter, you strapped it onto your ass and it became an extension of your physical body.” Amazing life story of Ed Dwight, almost the first Black astronaut, who could have walked on the Moon: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/us/ed-dwight-was-set-to-be-the-first-black-astronaut-heres-why-that-never-happened.html
In 2013 FAA Safety Briefing magazine published a seemingly unremarkable story about a mindless runway incursion in a light piston twin. Human error. Could have been bad, but like most incidents, no big deal. What’s interesting is the author. He was a master pilot. The byline is Gene Cernan, fighter pilot, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, astronaut, Moonwalker, and general aviation pilot. And I just heard the real story on how he got to write his confessional article. Listening to the Flight Safety Detectives podcast #56 the hosts, former NTSB investigators John Goglia and Greg Feith talk with former JetBlue safety … Continue reading It can happen to you
From this week’s James Clear newsletter:
Found a new flying podcast, what a great way to start 2021! Will be listening on the way to BOS Logan today. It’s called When Women Fly, and here’s a direct link to the Patty Wagstaff episode. “Flying is not the hardest part of it at all, it’s the mental aspects – so you learn a lot about yourself in any sport, anything that you do when you push yourself is where you really learn about who you are and what your weaknesses are, what your strengths are, and how to improve those things.” Patty Wagstaff
Reread the classic 1942 aviation adventure book West With The Night by Beryl Markham. Beautiful writing distilling life. And quotes like this, using airmanship to turn and climb in better air rather than just full power into mountain downdrafts:
