Warbird Information Exchange

Bill...
Your "gear down" reminded me of something my instructor said about "go-arounds". He said to memorize the following procedure:
1) Power up
2) Pitch up
3) Clean up (He explained that this should mean gear AND flaps.)
4) Speak up. (tell people what your doing)

Sound about right?

Mudge the teachable

_________________
Land of the free because of the brave

its a good idea too to get used to adding the gear check in there : gear, down and welded . . .
My dad used to always tell me, you know, there's those that haven't and those that will, in regards to landing gear up. Thanks a lot, pops. I don't believe that. When it usually happens is when you get out of your routine, like an unexpected go-around or something. You have to keep cross checking.
He also said the same thing when I started flying tailwheel airplanes, only in regard to ground-looping. Thanks again for the confidence check. Well, I once managed to hit both wingtips on a Super Cub, but it never went around – so I guess it doesn't count. . .

I think you're contradicting yourself there...first off you say that you don't believe it, then you say that "it usually happens" when you get out of your routine.

Well, the fact of the matter is that no pilot, regardless of experience, is immune to bonehead mistakes. If you think you are, then you need to re-evaluate yourself as an aviator.

I just recently did something VERY stupid on a live bomb attack in the Green Flag exercise that I went to. I nearly fragged myself with two 500-pound bombs. Why? Because the weather was crappy, and I thought I had the experience necessary to quarterback a new plan after the huddle. I'm one of the most experienced guys in the squadron, and one if the few with combat experience. Something I've done a thousand times in training...and when it was time to do it with bombs that really go boom on board, I messed it up. But for the grace of God go I...

I've also flown a combat mission over Iraq (back when they were actually shooting back at airplanes!) with my shoulder straps not fastened. Why? My back seater was getting interviewed by some TV reporter before the flight and we were sitting in the cockpit getting filmed. I was out of my normal strap-in routine and just forgot to clip them on. Would have been an interesting ride to the ground without a parachute if I'd had to eject.

I don't believe it *HAS* to happen. That would be dumb fatalism. When it does, it's usually when you get out of your routine – as you pointed out with your harness mistake. I agree that no one is immune and I try to keep reminding myself of that everytime I fly. Complacency and over-confidence are killers.

Good job Mudge! Stick to it! It keeps getting easier.

Dan