And what Final 3 Greens didn't say is that nobody INTENTIONALLY does something stupid in an aircraft. And they don't necessarily do it because they're bad pilots. And they don't usually do it when things are going well. The problems happen when, for instance, the weather's got worse, you're perhaps tired after a long flight, your passengers are talking too much or throwing up or otherwise distracting you, you're coming into an unfamiliar airfield in difficult conditions, and you're generally overloaded. That's when things go wrong, because you've inadvertantly taken on more than you can handle.

But it helps just a little to realise it can happen to YOU too, and I don't just mean you Tiger Moth, I mean any of us.

Thought I'd just post along the lines of the original topic heading. What about stupid thing about Pipers (PA28/32) - no door for P1!

sliding member,

I like PA28s, but I agree entirely; that DEFINITELY qualifies as a stupid thing.

Someone could start a new thread - stupid things in aviation. Bet that would get a lot of people going. :D

Tiger, maybe you started something after all! :D :D :D

I thought that there was no door on the LHS of a PA-28 so the pilot could have a bigger window and better visibility - not sure that's stupid...

Re. being ambidextrous.

Earlier this year, I flew to Las Vegas, and parked at North Las Vegas airport. Departed North Las Vegas the following morning, switched to Las Vegas Approach asap to request a published VFR Class B transition.

"Las Vegas Approach, N49F, 1 mile south of North Las Vegas, request Showboat Departure"

"N49F, Approach, Showboat Departure unavailbe - are you familiar with McCarren Departure"

I didn't recall a departure with this name, and a quick check of my chart and my notes revealed nothing. (A subsequent, longer check also revealed nothing - I assume it's a commonly used procedure which the locals know but isn't published anywhere.)

"Negative, 49F"

"49F, do you have McCarren International Airport in sight"

"Affirm, 49F"

"49F, climb 4500', fly heading AAA until passing 3000', then direct McCarren, not below 3000'. Head direct for the numbers of runway XX, then turn and head direct for the numbers of runway YY. After crossing the threshold of runway YY, turn heading BBB and report some other airport in sight." (I'm sure there were more instructions in there, too, which I don't remember now.)

Sh!t - that's not quite what I was expecting! Fumble to get pen out of its holder on my kneeboard, fly the plane, and listen to the instructions all at the same time.

Eventually ended up with pen in right hand, yoke in left hand - not good since I'm a left-hander, but it already been several seconds since Approach finished giving me the instructions, so I didn't want to delay any further. Scribbled the instructions down with my right hand, then read them back, and - more through luck than judgement - got the readback correct!

I wish I'd kept my flight log from that flight, because it made amusing viewing - the scribbles were more like something you'd see from a 5-year-old just learning to write than from a 20-something pilot! Scrawled right the way across the top of all my other notes. I can't write in small letters with my right hand, so they were absolutely huge, dominating the whole of the page. Somehow - again, more by luck than judgement - managed not to obscure my planned headings/altitudes for the flight back, but didn't leave me much room to make any more notes along the route! But it all worked out ok in the end...

FFF
-----------

Whirly

Agree completely with your post about getting in above one's head.

Hopefully Tiger will realise that we post from personal experience and were fortunate to be able reflect on what happened and learn from our mistakes.



:) Finals

On the subject of LH doors (or lack of) on Pipers.

I learned on PA28s and never notice the lack of a door as I don't expect one ....

pros

- saves weight
- strengthens airframe
- no chance of uncommanded opening in flight

cons

- egress in event of incident
- have to board RHS pax after PIC - would prefer to board last if PIC

I have been asked to delete this thread by the poster as they feel it is getting out of hand..(talk of side doors....).
I will close but not delete it as i think it contains some good points. I believe he posted the thread to get the point accross that sticks were better but he didn't really do that to well as you can see by the title of it to which he has already admitted is a bit of a stupid title. Fair enough, hes sick of the flak hes getting so i will close it now. :)