AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2023 - 16

LETTERS
Flying the Chippie
Oh, those clever Brits!
Dennis K. Johnson's feature about the de
Havilland Chipmunk ( " Flying the Chippie, "
January 2023 AOPA Pilot) suggests the airplane's
compass would not look out of place
in a boat-and indeed it would not. It is a U.K.
Admiralty Pattern P8 boat compass, which was
used in just about all RAF single-engine aircraft
during and immediately after World War
II. Bombers got the larger P12 variant. They are
remarkably easy to steer a course by. Once the
outer course ring is set and clamped in place,
all one has to do to keep the aircraft on course
is to keep the lines floating on the compass card
parallel to the " lubber lines " on the course ring,
which is much easier than having to constantly
remember a course number and head for it.
Graeme Smith / AOPA 6968542
Newport, Rhode Island
Hanging it up
I read with sadness about Wayne Pinger's painful
decision to hang up his solo flying ( " Hanging
it Up, " January 2023 AOPA Pilot). It is a very
personal self-analysis, and I don't question it
since that day might come for each of us. I will
say there seems to be another lesson (especially
but not only) for those of us getting on in years
that has held true since my first minute of dual
received. Each one of the items forgotten, from
" Avionics on and tuned, " to " Flaps set, " I'm surmising
are on a checklist. To Wayne, remember,
when it's all over we still have our stories. I hope
you have many.
Marty Krutolow / AOPA 4742504
New York, New York
Towering Presence
I was thumbing through Dave Hirschman's article
on the Cessna 208 amphibian and saw that
small photo on page 69 and thought to myself
that the " right-seater " looks vaguely like Brian
Addis ( " Towering Presence, " January 2023
AOPA Pilot). I started reading the article and,
lo and behold, it was him. The last time I saw
him was in September 2011 at his Wings flight
school at South St. Paul airport (SGS) where
Wipaire is located.
In 1991, Brian was the FAA designated
examiner who signed me off for my
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AOPA PILOT / March 2023
single-engine land instrument commercial
ticket. I find it very reassuring that Brian is
77 and continues to fly. In my opinion, one of
the best hobbies and interests to combat the
advances of time is to fly. Now at 71, I have
been flying as a pilot with the New Mexico
Wing of the of the Civil Air Patrol since 2017
and am currently getting checked-out in our
Gippsland GA8.
Hirschman's article was very interesting to
read. And, if you know of a better elixir than aviation
for staying sharp, please let me know!
Patrick Morrissey / AOPA 959106
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Clarification
When intercepting an NDB bearing ( " The
Dreaded NBD, " January 2023 AOPA Pilot),
you have reached the desired bearing when
the degrees of needle deflection equal the
intercept angle-in this case, 20 degrees.
Erratum
Louis Zamperini was not shot down; his aircraft
crashed after it sustained a mechanical failure
( " PlaneTags, " January 2023 AOPA Pilot).
AOPA Pilot regrets the error.
Send your comments to pilot@aopa.org.
Letters may be edited for length and style.
Is GA safe?
Of all the services AOPA
provides, the Early
Analysis videos on the
@AirSafetyInstitute
YouTube channel may be
the most valuable. Richard
McSpadden says that
creating these videos was a
defensive move to counter
sensationalism (roger that!),
but it's also a proactive
move to spread quick,
dispassionate analysis
among those determined
to learn and improve. If you
could bookkeep accidents
avoided, Early Analysis
would be a front-running
lifesaver.
Charley Brown /
AOPA 1358665
Coppell, Texas
Flying
the Chippie
The 'poor man's Spitfi re'
BY DENNIS K. JOHNSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID TULIS
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AOPA PILOT / January 2023
AOPA PILOT / January 2023
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2023
