Scattered amongst the normal Lancairians are at least two other types:

 

1. Those afraid to be criticized (not those that claim to have donned flame suits) and thus don't enter the Q&A milieu.  How the devil can they be pilots?  Do they shrivel and shrink when ATC issues an analysis of some recent dunderhead flight maneuver?  Have they forgotten the abuse heaped on them by things called CFI's?  Are they always perfect at work?  Are they just ex-airline captains? Huh? Huh? Come on, we're supposed to be type-A, take charge people...........  Who cares if a stranger from half-way around the world is punching holes in your statements?  Are you going to get embarrassed?  Do you think the crowd of chuckling Lancairians are going to remember your gaffes at the next fly-in?   So what?  Get over it.  Move beyond your critiphobia so the learning can start (I know of a 12 step plan) .

 

2. Those that ask questions that have no answer.  Like, "Why?"  Actually, there is evidence that some don't know how to ask a question.  A recent example was, "What exhaust do I use on a Lancair IV?"  These are the same people that drop their airplane off at the shop with the terse squawk, "The AP doesn't work."  Or, the Geek Squad is coming over to your house because you called and said. "The whatchamacallit isn't blinking."  To answer any question, one needs some context. 

 

Try this the next time you text a query on your device (Blueberry or whatever) - Before sending it, get up or remain standing if already up, and walk around to the other side of the screen.  Pretend you are an ignorant recipient of the glorious piece of prose you just prepared.  See if you might need to provide some additional information to intelligently frame an answer to the question with relevance to your needs.  Really, try it and you may be surprised.  OK, I know you can't read through the back side of the screen, think vertically and keep walking in a circle until the screen face comes into view again.  Geeeeeez.

 

Grayhawk