From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Kevin Roberts
To: lml
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 22:02:54 -0400
Message-ID: <web-674277@logan.com>
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Posted for <n98pb@sbcglobal.net>:

  As the wife of a pilot who owns a Lancair, I wanted to speak from my
  heart regarding whether or not anyone should pursue their love of
  flying.  My husband began flying in the late 1960's, owning many
  different aircraft, and decided on building a Lancair, ordering his kit
  in 1991, being kit number 52 in the IV series.  There was no
  pressurization kit at that time, but it came along during the building
  process and he was able to make it an add-on.  Speed brakes were also
  added during building.  7 years later (no fast build kits then) he had
  an airplane!
  
  Yes, it is fast.  We get from point A to point B in record time.  We fly
  above most weather.  My husband is conscious of my fear of flying in
  clouds and if weather is iffy, we don't go.  Yes, there have been
  several crashes related to weather lately.  There is nowhere anyone of
  us has to be to die for.  If there is a question of flying in weather
  and you still need to be there, take a commercial flight or drive.
  
  To those who are building and/or considering building, please do not
  rethink your decision based on the accidents of late.  Each person makes
  choices to fly or not to fly, and you must always be aware of your own
  personal abilities and stay within them (this is not to say that any of
  the accidents were because pilots were pushing the envelope).  Flying is
  a great past-time and pursuit.  We each only have but one life here on
  earth.  If it is your passion -- grasp it tightly and run with it.  I
  could no sooner tell my husband not to fly than he could tell me not to
  nag.  (That's for you, Paul.)  Do I worry?  Yes.  Am I concerned about
  his abilities?  No.  He reads the LML religiously, and takes in the
  information provided by those with more knowledge than he.  He makes
  changes to his aircraft as recommended by Lancair and the many pilots
  who have benefited from changes they have made to keep their aircraft
  and their flying abilities safer.  I know of no other group of pilots
  who are as conscientious about safety in their high performance
  aircraft.  Flying is no different than him driving to the airport and
  getting in an accident -- really.
  
  Many of you may remember that last July we had the door window blow out
  at 21,000 feet over Arizona.  My husband remembered the golden rule --
  fly the plane.  He checked all surfaces, made sure he had control, and
  analyzed the situation.  There were holes in the wing from the window
  skipping across it and the left flap was cut clean through from the
  leading edge out.  I can't tell you the number of pilots, including
  commercial pilots, with many many hours of experience, who said, Wow,
  bet you dove for the ground, huh?  No.  He did not.  He recognized that
  to fly the plane, he needed control all the way to the ground.  With the
  flap in that condition, he descended at around 200 to 300 feet per
  minute.  He did not utilize the flap on landing because he didn't know
  if it would stay together if deployed, or worse, if one piece would come
  completely off and hit the tail.  Remember, fly the plane.  He did just
  that and we landed safely.  He repaired the damage, and we were at the
  factory less than 2 months later for the fly-in, repainted and all!  We
  continue to fly without fear of the window blowing out again because
  there were modifications made to the installation because of other
  window blow outs.
  
  The Lancair community is a tight group and we all desperately care and
  are saddened when one of our members is injured or killed.  But taken in
  totality, we know far more folks who have died in car crashes or from
  illnesses.  If you love flying, pursue it with all you have.  Be
  conscious of your decision making skills, your ability to react in an
  emergency, and above all, take the High Performance classes.  They have
  plenty to teach everyone.  Both my husband and I took the class and even
  I, a non-pilot, learned more about weather and the aircraft that gave me
  a better comfort level.  Learn from each mistake made by others -- fly
  safer, fly on the side of caution, and be sure that your abilities are
  up to snuff.  There are enough pilots out there training newbies, and
  with the High Performance ground school and flying program, your
  abilities should not be an issue.  Keep the passion in your heart and go
  with it.  As Leonardo da Vinci said, "When once you have tasted flight,
  you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there
  you have been and there you will always long to return."
  
  Susan Brunner
  N98PB - IVP