Back to the "Deep South" in Duluth GA

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I get a kick out of hearing the term "Deep South" in 2026. It is a crazy incredibly outdated label. I think maybe I should start saying the "Deep Northeast". I am a Yankee. My family came over on the Mayflower and moved to Upstate NY via Connecticut. Terms used in the revolutionary and Civil war days are generally inappropriate. My family is all but totally out of NY State now. I find the term "deep south" to be of the same thinking that the movie "Heidi" is what contemporary Europe is like. It is a long drive between Berkshire, NY and Duluth, GA. Most of the 35K miles on the truck were spent in between. I drove the truck about 3k miles in 2-1/2 weeks. It was great to spend time on the farm. It was good to make some progress on needed repairs and improvements. I also felt good about making some new friends up there. I will be back up there in August.
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Life in Northern Atlanta. If you substitute the car for a small airplane in this pic it would hit the national news. I am glad I am flying to stay away from wrecks like this one. Aviation is so much safer. I did a nice emergency engine out (simulation) the other day (required). I picked a great spot. My flight instructor had a good laugh when I told him the engine out field strongly reminded me of landing in Greene NY. I wish I had a pic, but I was busy. Clear the trees, towers, hills, and wires and you have it made. I won't trade any of my sweaty palms (anywhere) for anything.

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David said…
Wow, knowing nothing about aviation myself, I am assuming that 'engine out' means that you're simulating what to do if the engines all of a sudden stop working while up in the air and that you have to try land it this way (your comment about the sweaty palms makes me think my assumption is true :) ). Isn't that really dangerous by itself then, such a simulation??

Regards,
David
5:22 AM
Charles said…
Yes, a simulated engine out in training is dangerous. I do know one instructor (and student) that crashed badly in that training element. Aviation training and safety is always improving. In the day, they used to take you down just before touch down. Nowadays We go down to about 200 feet as a safety margin.

It is simulated by having the instructor pull the throttle back to idle while the student is doing something else and the instructor announces the engine out situation.

The checklist for the student is something like this:
1. Maximum trim up and maintain 65 knots. (also keep in mind the power might come back on unexpectedly and that requires both hands on the stick and push hard!)
2. Look for a place to land, taking into account winds, terrain, topography, distance, etc.
3. Head that way.
4. In the C172, start at the floor with the fuel selector valve, then work up the panel in a "cross" pattern (appropriate) looking for mixture, mags, and other anomalies.
5. FLY THE PLANE!
6. Attempt restart.
7. If no power, land the plane as appropriate for the selected landing site. (this is where the simulation ends and the assessment is made of survivability)
8. Find clean pair of shorts!
6:22 PM
David said…
Haha, I bet no. 8 is true, and probably should be 'no. 2' in this case :D

Truely impressive stuff, aviation. It must be great to know how to fly a plane. I wouldn't know where to start, also it seems like an awfully expensive passion to me...
6:43 AM
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