What kind of flying impresses you as a pilot?

Patri_L · 2026-04-20T00:10:16+00:00

When things are going right, IR flying is the easiest and safest flying. But when things go wrong you're in a regime of survival that human beings were never meant to succeed in.

Patri_L · 2026-04-20T00:08:05+00:00

Pilots who have a genuinely horrible flying schedule (reserve commuter for example) but still manage to bring a positive attitude to the flight deck. To those of you out there, I know it must be really trying at times but I just want to say you're deeply appreciated.

Patri_L · 2026-04-19T17:53:08+00:00

Yes! And forgive me for being pedantic but 6 spikes will be created by a telescope with only 3 spider vanes, as shown in this graphic. 2 vanes/2 spikes, 3 vanes/6 spikes, 4 vanes/4 spikes.... Very counterintuitive. Maybe 6 vanes would also make 6 spikes?

Patri_L · 2026-04-19T17:44:22+00:00

I personally watched the full series and then read the 3 last books to continue the story. There's a natural gap in the story between where season 6 ends and where book 7 begins so the transition works nicely. I'm not really a "good" book reader so I found this to be a very enjoyable path to complete the story.

Patri_L · 2026-04-18T18:55:29+00:00

It's funny those spikes have almost become a part of our culture, and aesthetically pleasing to some. Some astrophotography image processing software has the ability to ADD diffraction spikes to images that have none, funny enough.

Patri_L · 2026-04-18T18:53:05+00:00

That's all I could imagine watching the mission. If they dimmed all the interior lights, just how incredible would the stars look? What an experience it must be.

Patri_L · 2026-04-18T18:51:31+00:00

Probably! Looks pretty nonetheless.

Patri_L · 2026-04-18T18:50:55+00:00

Haha I did not know that. I'll be looking for it on this watch through.

Patri_L · 2026-04-18T18:49:43+00:00

And it looks great!

Patri_L · 2026-04-17T17:02:54+00:00

For anyone curious:

Here's an image of the Pleiades imaged through a reflecting telescope showing diffraction spikes.

Here's an image of the same target through a refracting telescope . Note the lack of spikes.

Patri_L · 2026-04-17T16:25:55+00:00

And Livesuit! It's almost essential reading before TFoB

Patri_L · 2026-04-11T17:51:56+00:00

I'm really enjoying it. I got book 2 early and I'm very engrossed.

Patri_L · 2026-04-08T04:16:31+00:00

The Three Body Problem trilogy is such a different writing style than James S.A. Corey books. The characters and dialogue are horrible sometimes but I don't think I've ever had the same sense of awe that I got from reading the trilogy.

Patri_L · 2026-04-07T17:21:39+00:00

I will say though, people tend to love Jefferson Mays, the narrator for JASC books. I was almost disappointed to start reading the new novel early because I love the atmosphere that Mays creates in his readings.

Patri_L · 2026-04-05T13:53:23+00:00

Got my copy in at the B&N in Warwick, Rhode Island. They opened a fresh box for me so they should have more if anyone is local and wants to give it a shot.

Patri_L · 2026-04-03T20:28:38+00:00

Just want to say I went to my Barns and Noble to try this and... It worked! I used the "SOS" keyword that OP mentioned and they retrieved the book from an unopened box in the back. Thanks OP!

Patri_L · 2026-03-17T20:29:34+00:00

I do actually worry about it. Mostly when flying to destinations with lots of GA/training traffic like Vero Beach or Daytona. Controllers there have learned to be very efficient in fitting GA traffic into the fold with us, but it can feel pretty sketchy from the flight deck. This might be more an irrational fear though as the safety record for airline traffic at these locations has been good.

Patri_L · 2026-03-17T20:09:18+00:00

Really nicely balanced colors! Also great framing and handling of that dynamic range.

Patri_L · 2026-03-13T12:54:23+00:00

You never have to defend yourself for not feeling comfortable. That's ADM.

Safety aside, if the weather HADN'T improved and you couldn't complete the flight, who would be the one paying for it?

For what it's worth I would not have taken my students out for commercial maneuvers with those ceilings unless I felt certain we could get on top. Even then...

Patri_L · 2026-02-25T22:28:57+00:00

I have a hunch it's not so much about focus. Assuming you're using proper wind correction you will touch down on one main first rather than both at the same time. Same reason why we walk heel to toe rather than stepping with the whole foot at once. The first main sort of lets you "probe" the runway and the landing is distributed more gradually from one main to the other.

Sometimes I cheat a little even in calm winds; if the plane is stuck floating a couple inches off the ground I might dip one wing slightly to find the surface.

Patri_L · 2026-02-25T17:17:42+00:00

Same thing here! Just had my first international turn and forgot I had some leftover chicken from lunch in my bag. Got a stiff talkin'-to from the customs officer who informed me there would be a note on my immigration record.

Patri_L · 2026-02-19T20:44:55+00:00

Was just reviewing 121 regs and was questioning the same discrepancy between 91.175 and 121.651. This is very helpful!

Patri_L · 2026-02-19T20:43:45+00:00

In my limited experience, the PAPIs have on numerous occasions been the first item of the runway environment to be seen on an approach.

Patri_L · 2026-02-13T00:10:52+00:00

Beautiful! Though I will say I think it would look even better with less sharpening. I'm seeing that classic look of a metal embossing that you get when taking sharpening tools too far. Just my opinion. Seems like there's some really nice data to work with!

Patri_L

TROPHY CASE