Maya Angelou on becoming a great pilot
At an airshow I admire the biplanes, the jets, the smoke and the sounds. But the persistence of the pilots to get this good is most amazing.
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Living the dream
From the first hour of flight training, realize that you are already ‘living the dream!’ Eric Auxier. Airline captain and writer.
Live the warrior’s life
In Greek mythology, Telamon is son of the king Aeacus of Aegina. He accompanied Jason as one of the Argonauts, and was present at the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. I don’t think he ever flew airplanes. But his words are forever true. It’s good to study aerodynamics, regulations and hydraulic systems. But study is never enough. We must also do. The preflight at 04:30. In the cold. In the rain. We must live the warrior’s life.
Spaceman Mike Massimino
I just finished the great book Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe by Mike Massimino. (It came out earlier this month, hardcopy, kindle, iBooks.) It’s an easy engaging read, the personal story of his cool travels through colleges, companies, and on to two amazing Hubble rescue missions on the Space Shuttle. Best astronaut book I’ve read in a while. Along the way, ‘Mass’ shares some of the secrets learnt getting a PhD from MIT, learning to be an astronaut, and actually fixing the Hubble telescope in high Earth orbit. Here are some of my … Continue reading Spaceman Mike Massimino
Still amazed
I’ve watched Manfred Radius do aerobatics in his Salto sailplane, and it’s beautiful in a way very different from the fast jets or high-roll-rate biplanes. Always an inspiring show. Doesn’t surprise me that Manfred maintains his wonder of flight. Lose the wonder, the excitement, the enjoyment … and your performance will soon also start to sadly decline. (Original photo credit U.S. Navy, snapped by Edward I. Fagg during the 50th Anniversary Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show)