Seeing the wheels, connecting rods and gushing steam made me reflect not only on the old steam trains, but also on some of the older planes I used to fly. In particular, I thought of the instrument panels, so different from the present, with their round glass dials. As I mused, I wondered about the “feel” of flying on the “gages” when there are none, just digital displays. What do all those data displays mean or where do they come from anyway?
A quick review of the glass cockpit involves mainly the PFD or primary flight display. This should depict attitude, airspeed, altitude as well as other data such as vertical speed and yaw. That’s a lot on one instrument, obviating quite a bit of scanning as previously required to obtain the same info. The point I am trying to make is that all the data was on individual dials and somehow made us aware of its importance by being there. One thing that still worries me is possible screen failure. I know there are two screens that can have the data switched back and forth. That is some comfort, as are the back- up individual old “round dials”.
Finally, it’s back to basics again. The recent crash of a Cessna 500 type jet in good VFR weather is just horrifying. The pilot, made two approaches, both apparently too high and ? too fast, tried to force the plane down on the runway. It just can’t be done, fellow pilots. Whether it is a Cirrus or a 747, if there is enough air speed over the wing to provide lift, she is gonna want to keep flying! This poor pilot apparently tried to test this out. According to the NTSB report he touched down midfield on the nose wheel, then slamming down the mains and losing control of the plane, ending up in a fatal ball of fire, killing all five occupants.
In closing, I urge all to stick to the basics of proven aerodynamics. Don’t be a test pilot unless your name is something like Yeager.
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