CONTENTS flighttraining.aopa.org VOLUME.24 / NUMBER. 9 09.12 FEATURES 28 RADIOHEAD Sounding good on the mic. New technology helps you speak good. By Ian J. Twombly 32 EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT FLYING I LEARNED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN Life lessons. The pattern is his kindergarten classroom. By Phil Scott 36 TECHNIQUE Emergency descent. How to get down fast. See page 22. 22 COVER STORY » How flaps provide the boost and drag needed for everyday operations. By Chip Wright GIVE YOURSELF A LIFT "IT IS EASY TO TAKE FLAPS FOR GRANTED, BUT THEY ARE A WONDER OF AERODYNAMIC FLEXIBILITY." —CHIP WRIGHT ARE YOU SMARTER THAN » LEARN EVERYTHING YOU A TH GRADER? NEED . TO KNOW IN THE PATTERN p. flighttraining.aopa.org GIMME LIFT Exploring the Wonders of Flaps p. SAVING LIVES, SAVING AIRCRAFT p. CHUTE SOLUTION OVERCOMING MIC FRIGHT NEW TECHNOLOGY TALKS YOU THROUGH IT p. MANNING AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT p. A NEW BREED OF PILOT ON THE COVER » Photo by Mike Fizer. SEPTEMBER 2012 FLIGHT TRAINING /1http://flighttraining.aopa.org http://flighttraining.aopa.org