Sometimes you just gotta wonder

You just have to wonder sometimes... The quote below is from an article about a ballistic parachute recovery system for small aircraft that potentially could be utilized on larger aircraft. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=528&e=2&u=/ap/20041223/ap_on_hi_te/airplane_parachutes

From the article, ...."Some pilots insist they'll never fly without a parachute. " ....

"People are crazy not to fly with them," said William Graham of San Diego, an instructor pilot whose plane landed beneath a parachute this spring near Stockton, Calif., after it unexpectedly flipped upside down at 16,000 feet. Graham, who was flying with his wife, Barbara, said they drifted onto a farm field so gently the landing didn't break fragile Christmas ornaments and glass bottles aboard the plane.
Now, I just have to wonder, if he was at 16,000 MSL (Mean Sea Level) or even better, 16,000 AGL (Above Ground Level) (not likely) and he did get an unexpected roll, where were his recovery skills? He is an instructor after all. Basic spin and stall recovery is hammered into a students head by any decent CFI / CFII etc and when available, spin training gives you better skills and confidence and besides it's fun. Hmmm, remind me not to get any training near San Diego...Gotta Wonder huh?

They say that chrome don't get you home so why is it so popular?

Drag racing announcers often call it an extremely technical race. Since it is really the measurement of the elapsed time it takes to move mass over distance why is that so technical? The most important rule is who got there first anyway.
The technical aspect is not in the race but how you get there first. Most power, least rolling resistance, drag, driver reaction, traction etc.
You just have to wonder why those announcers have to make you think that covering a 1/4 fastest is the technical part....

Last but not least is something I wonder about every year.
Why is it that someone would wait until the 20'th to place an order, not make sure it is in stock and available and then get upset because it won't be there in time?
Which reminds me, I have to call and see where that order is I placed on the 20th.

Sometimes I make myself wonder...

I love this Aviation BS. First off, 16,000 AGL or MSL doesn't matter that much. Either standard you use he was in need of oxygen. (as per Federal Flight Regulations). At 18,000 feet you have half the pressure to fill your lungs with air. Therefore, you would pass out in about 1 and a half minutes. Second, if he was in an aircraft that had a service ceiling at or above 16,000 feet, it would be too large to have a practical application of a parachute.
Another problem I've seen is that now days they don't teach a student pilot Spin or Stall "Recovery". They teach them "Spin and Stall Recognition". They are not allowed to learn how to Save Their Own Lives.
Now for the important stuff:
CD, if I order a new S&S motor can you have it here by Christmas morning????

Well, sure if I take Sisco's. Think he would mind? Cash okay?

You read that the same way I did, he was vague about the incident but made it clear he was a CFI (well maybe not now).... The amount of force it would take to just chuck an a/c upside down would sure as hell do more than minor damage. I think I'll do a little check in the NTSB and FAA data bases just for fun.

I found one William Graham in San Diego, California. He holds a single engine license with commercial rating. He is also a CFI. The date of issue of his SEL ticket was in 1998. Yep, gota wonder.

And, Oh Yea, I don't think Paul would mind. Just leave the Pan alone, that could get you hurt.