Big Pistons Forever

As some of the readers of this forum may have seen, jabowacky and I had as the Beeb says, a "frank and honest exchange of views, but were unable to reconcile our opposing positions".

However one comment he made me got me thinking. He implied my postings only had relevance to pilots of simple low powered aircraft and that by not discussing advanced techniques, operating LOP, in that case, I was dumbing down the forum.

His observation is valid as I often comment on thread topics by refocussing the discussion back to fundemental flying principals and almost invariably direct any advice specifically at student pilots and low time PPL's.

As a fairly regular poster it seems pointless to comment from a point of view that is not relevant or interesting to the majority of the forum readers

So my question is what do readers want ?

1) Advice primarily aimed at low time pilots

2) Advice and discussion about advanced flying topics

3) Neither, Both ?

4) Something else ?

Genghis the Engineer

All of the above - basically if it's about flying machines, I'm usually interested.

G

Steve6443

personally speaking, I'm interested in the GA end of things and although I reckon I'll never progress beyond single mots, if it's about flying, I'll read it. If, however, I think the topic is beyond me or not relative - for example jets - I can easily skip it so just because it's not relevant to me at this moment in time, doesn't mean it's not interesting for others - or for me at a later date...

Pilot DAR

Perhaps, Big Pistons, a review of this http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...you-flown.html thread would be a starting point, though I do see where you are pointing with your question - I've had the same thoughts...

Ds3

Personally I'm interested in 1) as, unsuprisingly, I am a low time PPL.

But I don't expect the topics to be restricted to those I am personally interested in - it's a forum, I'll read those threads that look of interest to me, and pass over those that don't.

Although that said, this particular sub-forum is entitled 'private flying' and therefore I would expect the majority of topics within to be in relation to GA.

TomNH

My interests are in learning more (anything more) about flying and planes. Whilst I'm a student PPL I'd like to extend my knowledge as far and wide as possible. Breaking things back down to the fundamentals suits my style of learning.

Sadly the threads I get the most from are the one's to which I can add little. What I value is access to the discussion between people with a huge range of experience.

maxred

The two words, General Aviation, encompass everything from a paraglider to a Boeing BBJ. It is a large spread. I would not get too hung up on the recent spat. I enjoy looking at what is relevent to me, if it is not, I will pass. For what it is worth I look for your posts, and try to gleen some advice. Sometimes it gets a bit to involved in ' look at me, I know an awful lot' but that is easily dismissed. The forum that is.

Keep going the way you are.

stevelup

Yep - if appropriate to the discussion at hand ...

Yep - if appropriate to the discussion at hand

I don't see why it has to be one, the other or indeed both - it just needs to be whatever makes the most sense at any given time.

There's simply no need to start worrying about your 'audience' and aiming your replies at a certain segment of people.

To be honest, I thought that Jabawocky was quite trollsome in that thread and seemed to be looking for a scrap... Maybe he'll go back under his DG&P bridge if you don't feed him!

rats404

I'm a relatively low houred PPL with an IMC rating, but I've been obsessed with aviation since I was a wee lad. I bought "The design of the aeroplane" before I took my first lesson. I'm reading ATPL ground school books for fun on my daily commute*. It's impossible to pigeon hole people.

So don't for pete's sake worry what you post. I lap it all up. And as others have said, if something doesn't interest me, nobody is forcing me to read it.

*(Yes, my wife does despair...)

Pace

BPF

You and others here bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. My part?
I like discussions to be challenging and do not mind theads going in directions they were not intended

But we get there in the end and your contributions are invaluable and appreciated by all including me.

Pace

GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU

Personally, I don't look on this forum for advice. That's largely what club/ticket signing instructors are for. What I do look for is news, other people's experiences, thoughts, ideas and opinions. We can all learn and it doesn't really matter what the AUW of the teaching apparatus is. Now and again, our own experience and knowledge may add to the benefit of the discussion.

Pilot DAR

In economies, we have markets, black markets, and grey markets. Similarly here. I would expect that most participants here can safely distinguish the market and black market of information being offered. It's the grey market information here which worries me.

Grey market information being that which though not wrong, if undertaken by an untrained pilot could be unsafe, or damaging, or otherwise results in an aircraft being operated very close to, or beyond its approved limitations. Some readers here might have difficulty distinguishing that information. Worse, it's usually that information which has that extra spark of interest.

Believe me, there are a lot of stupid things I have done in aircraft, and some more than once, which I would never mention here, for fear another reader, without the wisdom to realize how foolish it was, might attempt it. There are other things I do now with care, which are planned to go beyond limits, which I do discuss, but with the warning that these are planned flight tests, not routine flying.

Even things which may be within limits, but are pointing you toward being out - like simple aerobatics in a non aerobatic aircraft - are better not suggested as plausible, lest they tempt the untrained into attempting them. Grey market information.

Generally posters do very well in my estimation, in not presenting bad ideas as being good ones. But pilots must always remember that certified aircraft come with firm limitations, and a number of recommendations, which if followed, will ensure the safe flying experience we all want to have. Very few pilots on this forum are qualified to go poking beyond these limitations. Probably best kept that way....

Duckeggblue

For me, I don't think you have to agree with a post to learn something from it. So I hope you would say what you think.
You will never know how many people benefit because for the most part, those who disagree seem to be much more motivated to post than those who agree

I don't think you should try to filter what you say according to what you think people want to hear (apart from personal attacks obviously) The filter should reside in the reader. It is not compulsory to read anything you are not interested in.

XLC

for me 3) both

sevenstrokeroll

FLYING IS FLYING.

how can it possibly matter what kind of plane you fly?

piperboy84

It’s a consumers market, if the info, tips and advice on this forum are beneath your level, move on to another topic or string that meets your needs, if however it applies to you then I hope you get as much out of this forum as I do. I am a low time VFR pilot with about 500 hours flying all different types of singles in a wide variety of locations and conditions and I can tell you I get a helluva lot of excellent advice and tips and food for thought that has no doubt made me a safer, more competent pilot, in addition to sparking my interest in topics that makes me go to other sources for clarification and learning.

Separating the wheat from the chaff is pretty easy .

BPF, not to blow smoke up your ass but your opinions and observations have been of immense value to me, so keep doing what you’re doing.

LH-OAB

Who's reading? Well, I was a PPL recreational flyer, I'm an ex-Instructor and now an airline turboprop pilot. I like to keep in touch with recreational GA in the hope of returning to that world at some point. I expect comments on this forum to be aimed at "Private Flying" at all levels from student to experienced but I imagine that the majority who take advice from this forum are the less experienced. I hope that they can "separate the wheat from the chaff" because I despair of the posters I know in real life who claim on PPRuNe to have vast experience and to have flown every type under the sun when the reality is less impressive.

piperboy84

Point taken, but the chancers normally get shot down pretty quick with replies from folks that do know what they are talking about.

Pace

Pilot Dar

There are student pilot forums and instructor forums this is a private pilots forum so should cater for a broad church of experience and types of private flying.

Things change very slowly in aviation and because it has always been done that way so always should be done that way is questionable?

To practice spins or not was one subject which was worthy of discussion?
Use of the chute in forced landings in a Cirrus was another? This went against conventional thinking was not approved by the manufacturer but could have merit so warranted discussion.

If a student asks a question and questionable advice is given there are plenty of qualified instructors in the forum to pounce on that advice and explain why it should not be used.

Censorship stifles freedom of speech and as long as people are respectful to each other what is said should not be stifled only corrected?

This smacks of the 9 o clock watershed for fear that children maybe watching and you have to be careful of what you say

being an anonymous forum means it should carry a health warning as there are many posters who we do not know about or their true qualifications in expressing those opinions but they are opinions and should not be treated as fact!

Pace

India Four Two

BPF,

Keep going exactly as you have been. I always read your posts with interest and often learn something new