--by Jennifer Caron, FAA Safety Briefing
For centuries, birds have captured our imagination and inspired us to fly. It was the Wright brothers who carefully observed the wing tips of large soaring birds to invent the first successful airplane capable of controlled and sustained flight.
The famous brothers’ ingenuity effectively combined the imagination of flight with the spirit of inventiveness to create many different types of aircraft. From their home-built gliders to their experimental aircraft to their innovative biplanes, each and every iteration of both non-powered and powered craft served to provide our fearless inventors with a deeper understanding of the principles of flight.
It is that same spirit of originality, imagination, and experimentation that lures many in this vast aviation community to pilot a “bird of a different feather” — a different type of aircraft. These can include piloting a glider to experience a new perspective of lift and maneuverability, or a glass cockpit aircraft to learn an avionics system different from the analog dials and gauges you’ve used before.
A Copious Flock of Flying Machines
Indeed, one of the pure joys of general aviation (GA) is that it provides us an opportunity to choose from a wide variety of craft to soar us into the skies. We are not just limited to the two- or four-seater trainer airplane used for certification. We can choose to fly gyroplanes, helicopters, gliders, balloons, drones, or ultralights. If we’re so inclined, we can even build our own airplanes from our mind’s eye or from factory-made kits. There is much out there for us to enjoy.
GA aircraft come in all different shapes, sizes, and speeds and there’s an aircraft out there to match whatever type of flying you want to do. In this issue, we’ll introduce you to the bounty of aircraft goodies in a diverse aviation buffet just waiting for you to fly. We’ll talk about what makes these aircraft special and give you a sense of what to expect, along with the pilot and airworthiness certifications that you’ll need.
Try Before You Fly
But before you get too caught up in all the possibilities, it’s important to remember that any unfamiliar aircraft or avionics system requires proper instruction and transition training in your new aircraft’s systems and operating characteristics.
Even if you’ve flown similar aircraft before, learn the aircraft’s limitations and get a feel for what you can and can’t do in flight. Focus on what to expect on takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, and descent. Know your aircraft’s emergency procedures, speeds, and power settings. Train with a qualified instructor, and practice, practice, practice.
Broaden Your Horizons
The Wright brothers famously said, “The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who ... looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space ... on the infinite highway of the air.” Imagine, like the Wright brothers, all the possibilities out there to reach the skies and the aircraft that will take you there. Peruse the pages of this issue to see what other types of aircraft you would like to experience and enjoy. Not only will you have fun, but you’ll open your horizons to a wider perspective of GA and come to appreciate new ways to enjoy the ride.
