AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2025 - 45

Test Pilot /
BY BARRY SCHIFF
a deep understanding of multiengine operations.
It was a holistic approach, one that promised to
equip me with both the skills and knowledge
required for proficient and safe flying.
A pivotal part of my experience at T3
Aerosports was my time with Mason Dozier, a
flight instructor whose reputation for excellence
in both teaching and flying preceded him.
Mason, despite his relatively young age, brought
a level of expertise and experience that was both
inspiring and reassuring. His teaching style
was a blend of rigorous practical training and
comprehensive theoretical education.
Finally, the checkride with Charlie Tilghman
marked the culmination of this transformative
journey. Charlie's calm and relaxed presence
in the cockpit was infectious. His method of
walking me through the various aspects of the
airmen certification standards was as natural and
reassuring as his conversational style during the
oral exam. The checkride, under his guidance,
became an opportunity to validate my skills and
learning in a supportive environment. The right
examiner, much like the right instructor, can
profoundly impact not just the outcome of a test,
but the entire learning experience.
Looking back, I realize that every turn
in this journey, every decision to explore
uncharted territories, was a step toward not
just a certification, but towards a deeper, more
profound understanding of what it means to
be a pilot. It reinforced the idea that aviation is
not just about controlling an aircraft; it's about
continuous learning, exploring opportunities to
amplify safety, adapting to new situations, and
embracing the vast and varied experiences that
flying offers.
In the end, this wasn't just about earning
a multiengine rating. It was about growing
as an aviator and as a person. It was about
understanding that in the world of aviation, like
in life, the ability to adapt and embrace change
is as vital as any skill learned in the cockpit.
Leland R. Johnson is a private pilot with a
multiengine rating and owns a Piper Seneca and
Cessna 182.
1 From reader Jerry Griggs: What was the first pressurized,
piston-powered, single-engine airplane produced in the
United States?
2 True or false? More pilots became aces flying the North
American P-51 Mustang than any other U.S. fighter during
World War II.
3 From reader John Schmidt: Which one or more of the
following countries operate one or more aircraft carriers?
A. France
B. India
C. Italy
D. Spain
E. Thailand
4 Who said the following? " Let's get one thing straight.
There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One
is a technician, and the other is an artist in love with flight. "
A. Frank Borman
B. Howard Hughes
C. Elrey Jeppesen
D. Eddie Rickenbacker
5 From reader George Shanks:
Why did the U.S. Air Force
require some of its pilots to be
married during the Cold War?
6 True or false? Orville Wright
was the first pilot to fly a
complete circle in an airplane.
7 What were the first weapons
used by pilots of the first Allied
fighter planes of World War I?
8 The Canadian-built robotic arm, Canadarm2, on the
International Space Station weighs almost two tons. Why
does it need to be so strong and heavy when the items that
it moves are weightless in orbit?
See Answers on p. 48
AOPA PILOT / March 2025
45
JOHN UELAND
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2025

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