Aviation, especially Experimental Aviation, carries along with its benefits an intrinsic risk that is hard to completely dismiss. Things can go wrong when you are flying, either with the airplane, the weather or the pilot’s technique that can lead to tragic outcomes. Those bad outcomes include injury or death. Because a person can get hurt or killed, it is natural for anyone involved, especially those in the flying machine itself, to feel fear. Since fear is a natural instinct, somewhat inseparable from the act of aviation, the question we have to ask is not “How can we keep from being afraid?” but rather “How do we cope with fear when it arises?”
I have been involved with and participated in a lot of very risky activities in my life. I guess I have been drawn to sports such as skydiving, flying, water skiing, scuba diving and mountain climbing ever since I started reading books on the subjects, making their participants my heroes.
Whether it was a fighter pilot in WW-II, a mountaineer struggling his way up Everest or an explorer deep beneath the waves coping with technology and nature, I have always been excited by what it takes to perform near the edge of what is humanly possible.
On the edge
This story is from the August 2022 edition of African Pilot.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2022 edition of African Pilot.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ENSTROM Helicopter Corporation
With crisp handling, well-appointed features, incredibly smooth ride, beautiful style and roomy interior, Enstrom’s line of helicopters offers the attributes of the ultimate luxury sports car and for an unexpectedly affordable price.
CABRI G2
Helicopteres Guimbal was founded late-2000, with the purpose of developing and certifying the two-seat helicopter Cabri G2.
A-10 demonstration team announces its final season
After more than four decades of performing around the world, the US Air Force A-10C demonstration team announced that 2024 will be its final season. The 355th Wing located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona said the decision was a part of the Air Force’s divestment of the A-10 Thunderbolt Il, affectionately known as the Warthog.
LOCKHEED MARTIN 35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb
The designation marks the first time that a stealth fighter can carry a nuclear weapon, in this case the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb.
POLIKARPOV I-16
Rare POLIKARPOV I-16 flies again in SPAIN
KERMIT WEEKS
Kermit Weeks acquires unique Boeing Stratoliner houseboat
GNSS JAMMING AND SPOOFING EVENTS PRESENT A GROWING DANGER
Last year, reports that fake signals were jeopardising aircraft navigation systems spiked in the area over the Black Sea. First reported by security intelligence organisation OpsGroup, the reports cited false or jammed global navigation satellite system GNSS) signals, affecting the US global positioning system GPS) civil signals, causing aircraft navigation systems to show missing or inaccurate position information.
HILL HELICOPTER HX50
The arrival of Hill Helicopter’s HX50 is set to shake up the world of general aviation, with some of the most interesting technological developments seen in decades.
AVIC'S AC332 LIGHT TWIN HELICOPTER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer Avic announced the first flight of its light-twin AC332 helicopter in Tianjin.
PC-12 SILENT 7 PROPELLER Now with improv ved certified take off performance
Due to the smaller diameter the seven-bladed MT-Propeller for the Pilatus PC-12 has more ground clearance for less blade tip erosion and FODs.