Dan wrote:
On Mar 24, 5:47 pm, Dudley Henriques wrote:
Dan wrote:
On Mar 24, 3:12 pm, Dudley Henriques wrote:
I have just received a copy of Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook
Second Edition from the publisher to review.
I haven't had a chance to read all of it yet, but just from what I've
seen thus far, I have no doubt whatsoever that I will be recommending
this book as a study manual to all student pilots.
This hard cover top quality heavyweight glossy paper
manual is the most well written and comprehensive work I have ever seen
done by anyone in the industry.
Throughout my career as a CFI I have always used and recommended Bill
Kershner's fine manuals, and these are still fine books today.
But what Rod has done with his books is absolutely amazing. The
presentation is not only accurate, but done with the "average person"
and "everyday pilot" in mind. Rod takes the most complicated of issues
and presents them intelligently and with a splash of humor that is
unbelievably educational. The drawings and graphics are exceptional.
I can't stress enough my positive opinion of this book.
--
Dudley Henriques
I have Rod M's Instrument book. It's very good - the only issue I have
with the book is that the layout is very busy -- even distracting.
Has the layout been tamed in the PPL texts?
I have one of each -- Jepp, ASA, Kershner -- and all the Gleim. I find
the Gleim's are good for just before the test (practical and
knowledge), the Jepps are the best designed and laid out, and the ASA
series is a very close second and much more reasonably priced.
The Kershner books are very good, but the presentation is dated,
compared to the ASA and Jepp.
Dan Mc
All of these books are good, each in it's own way.

I think what's been lacking for many years in the business has been a
manual totally designed for the "average Joe" or if you will, the
housewife next door who wants to enter General Aviation and possibly
learn to fly.

Through the years I've seen one after another of this type of person
take the initial step and seek an introductory flight, then be
intimidated by the complexity of the system and the manuals as they were
presented to them. Many have simply not gone further and been lost.
This isn't to say that the manuals are not sufficient or well done. They
are. I simply believe that Machado has bridged a gap that might go a
long way to solving this "initial impression" loss issue.

I have believed for many moons that there exists in General Aviation a
totally unnecessary trend toward the macho image for the GA pilot. It's
this very self envisioned image that drives away many "average people"
who would otherwise give aviation a try.

Machado addresses this issue head on with his books. Although not overly
simplified, his free wheeling style addresses the flying issues in a
manner that tends NOT to intimidate the reader. I personally find great
value in this, as it fills a gap in GA that desperately needs to be
filled if GA is to progress into the future.

GA was never meant for test pilots and engineers alone. If GA is to
flourish in the future, it will have to attract more "average" people
into it's ranks.
Rod Machado has gone a long long way toward filling this gap.

--
Dudley Henriques

That's an interesting angle.

I don't think you mean that we need to add to the ranks of the casual
pilot -- just ease the transition from "jus lookin" to pilot, right?

Cirrus seemed to attack that market, but problems there.

Or maybe flying has these hurdles built-in, to force people to decide
"Is this all really for me?" before spending time and treasure?

I don't know for sure. I've been in other sports/pursuits/interests
that have a barrier to entry. After you spend some time, you figure
out why they exist.

Motorcycle racing is one -- the costs in cash and time are exorbitant,
and the rewards paltry. There's no one welcoming you with open arms,
no friendly web site "Welcome to racing," no paid instructors.

But you realize soon enough that you can get killed, have to really
love it, and prepare to spend ALOT of money for no promise of reward.

There's no way to pretend there isn't a lot to know and learn before
flying off into the sunset. I suppose better prepared and presented
books can help in that regard, but in the end there needs to be the
desire and ability on the part of the want-to-be.

Anyway -- no conclusions, just thoughts.


Dan Mc



Ah.motorcycle racing. Tried it once. I used to ride a lot and had quite
a few bikes. A friend of mine conned me into trying my hand at an
amatuer dirt track. Like the idiot I was at that age I thought this
might be fun so I saddled up and qualified. There were about 20 bikes on
the starting line with me when the gun went off. For some ungodly reason
(probably from my earlier days as a champion speed skater) I hit the gun
just right just right. I think I was opening the throttle as the charge
was going up the barrel of the pistol :-)
Anyway, there I was...all alone out front dragging my butt into the
first turn when I lost the bike and down I went. Just about the time I
was realizing that there were 19 bikes about to run me over, they did!
Man, I STILL don't know how I survived that day. Nobody hit me, but I
was doing a REAL credible impression of Fred Astaire getting out of the way.
That was the end of my bike racing :-))

I don't think you mean that we need to add to the ranks of the casual
pilot -- just ease the transition from "jus lookin" to pilot, right?

I little bit of both actually. We need new blood for sure, and the
transition into GA could be made more attractive.

--
Dudley Henriques