Human factors RECKLESSNESS

Dudley Henriques wrote:
"Ron Natalie" wrote...

Dudley Henriques wrote:


Everything Bob does and has done in aerobatics with each and every
aircraft
he has flown professionally for that purpose has required special waivers
from competent authority.

And certainly an aircraft inspected more often than your average ragged
out trainer. I saw footage of a Hoover wannabe foldering up the wings
on a Partenavia during an airshow.


Yes; this type of thing is unfortunate. Hoover is very aware of it and
speaks to GA pilots quite often on safety issues. He's always been quite
candid and truthful; especially when discussing his own mistakes.
Copy-cat issues with aerobatic wannabes are quite prevalent in aviation
unfortunately.

Not just aviation. I rock climb, and at the top of the rock climbing
pyramid are guys that climb thousand foot cliffs of astounding
difficulty, and do it solo without any ropes or other safety gear. Just
their skill.

And when asked about it, to a man they do the right thing and go on and
on, blah, blah, blah, about how they do it for themselves, and no one
else should do it, etc. And still people follow their lead and kill
themselves when they get over their head.

The soloists can do what they do because they have absolute mastery (as
much as one can be a master) of their skills and limitations. The
problem is, their logic of "I am a master, therefore I can solo" gets
turned around by wannabes into "If *I* solo climb, I too must be a
master." At which point natural selection occurs.

Everybody would like to have the skills of Mr. Hoover. More than a few
think they already do. Some will always die trying to prove it, to
themselves and others. So it'll be a constant battle.

strapping yourself to an enormous fuel tank and two rockets is pretty
damn reckless if you ask me, but i respect any astronaut living or who
died exploring new frontiers.

hey so is sailing across the ocean when everyone else expects you to
fall off.

"private" wrote in message

CFIT A multiple champion pilot losses control while reaching for a $100
side
bet.


What accident does this refer to? Who was killed?

It was a HG pilot, whose father also died in a HG crash...see
Davis Straub ezine for details.



At 21:00 30 April 2005, Ed H wrote:

'private' wrote in message

CFIT A multiple champion pilot losses control while
reaching for a $100
side
bet.


What accident does this refer to? Who was killed?

So flying a glider around for pleasure...is to be equated
to exploring space, or Christopher Columbus?

Gimme a break...we play with toys at our whim. Allow
me to post a story that illustrates my position...not
that I expect all to agree. How we kill ourselves
is our own business afterall.

A friend of mine had just completed an outstanding
soaring flight, perhaps a state or national record
if he cared to submit it, which he did not. Being
very pumped after this flight, he pulled into the local
watering hole in Salida and promptly explained his
deed to his buddies. After a pregnant pause...and
silence...someone finally replied, 'Gee, that sounds
interesting. But Fred over there hit a triple in the
softball game!'

We fly for our own self worth...99% of the world thinks
the triple in the softball game is more significant.
So is this worth risking ours lives over?


At 20:00 30 April 2005, James wrote:
strapping yourself to an enormous fuel tank and two
rockets is pretty
damn reckless if you ask me, but i respect any astronaut
living or who
died exploring new frontiers.

hey so is sailing across the ocean when everyone else
expects you to
fall off.

Stewart Kissel wrote:
\
We fly for our own self worth...99% of the world thinks
the triple in the softball game is more significant.
So is this worth risking ours lives over?

Are you risking your life, Stewart?

How big a risk do you normally feel comfortable with?

How do you assess the risk in your activities?


Jack

At 23:30 30 April 2005, Jack wrote:
Stewart Kissel wrote:
\
We fly for our own self worth...99% of the world thinks
the triple in the softball game is more significant.
So is this worth risking ours lives over?

Are you risking your life, Stewart?

Not if I can help it..

How big a risk do you normally feel comfortable with?

When backcountry skiing, avalanche training and equipment,
when cycling...a helmet. When sharing the road with
giant SUV's driven by cellphone talkers...I confess,
I am at their mercy. When flying over 'unlandable'
terrain, the proper precautions and gear.

How do you assess the risk in your activities?

Life would be boring without adventure...stupid risk
taking thins out the gene pool...I try my best not
to take stupid risks.


Jack

NW_PILOT wrote:
"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...

Andrew Gideon wrote:


Smutny wrote:



Dude, you really need to step back and take a good look at what you're
exhibiting here.


You know, NW didn't need to post that he was doing aerobatics in a
*nonaerobatic* airplane. He convinced me a while back that he posts for
the shock value, and likely enjoys the huge response he generates as

much

as he enjoys doing inappropriate things in/to aircraft.

I've enjoyed some of the resulting conversation (it never occurred to me
that an inadvertent roll might short the battery's terminals, for

example),

but let's not give him the reward he craves. It just feeds his

addiction,

and he'll be back for more.

- Andrew


Well, if the poster who said he was sending the video to his local FSDO
really does that and wasn't just bluffing, then we may not have to hear
of his aviation recklessness too much longer.

Matt



It's funny how you all think I did this in my airplane my airplane is blue &
white not red.



If you are going to intentionally put an aircraft at risk, I would
rather you do it with your own plane, not one others may rely on or if
damaged put at risk.

On the subject of *Wannabe* flying, I remember a tragic example from
RF-4 training at Mt. home AFB in 1967. A crew from our sister squadron
was working with an Army detachment in the field. After the days
activities were over, the ground controller asked for a fly-by. The
RF-4 jock came by at 500 feet with everything hanging out, gear down,
flaps down, hook down. As he passed by the guys on the ground, he lit
both burners and attempted a roll. Almost made it too, but dished-out
on the bottom and turned it into a flaming ball of wreckage.

While going through the pilots stuff several days later, a video was
found showing the Thunderbirds doing a roll from 500 feet with
everything hanging out using full burner.

JJ Sinclair

Thanks Dudley. No surprise you agree. Most people in dangerous professions
learn to think this way, or they become a statistic. Test pilot, fighter
pilot, aerobatic pilot, soldier, police officer, fireman, mountain climber,
stuntman, race car driver ... the same mentality is essential to success.
Learn as much as you can, prepare as much as you can, and stack the odds in
your favor so you reach the end in one piece.

The old saying is wrong. There are plenty of old, bold pilots. But they
are all old, bold, careful pilots. There are no old, bold, careless pilots.



It's exactly this philosophy that kept me alive through an entire career
of test flying and demonstrating high performance airplanes at low
altitude.
And you're right about Hoover also. I know him, and his philosophy IS
exactly as you have stated here.
Thank you for your service,
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot; CFI; Retired
dhenriquestrashatearthlinktrashdotnet
(take out the trash :-)