daily scratchpad

(4)

This is a photo of Six Eight Bravo at Littleton airport. This is the airplane in which I took the test for my Flight Instructor rating. It is an 85 hp Aeronca Champ with an electric starter. The test was taken at Jeffco airport. I remember only two things about that test. I was flying (of course) from the rear seat:

Before we got into the airplane the FAA Inspector asked me whether we ever did aerobatics in that airplane. As he asked the question (he was doing the pilot-in-command pre-flight inspection, and seemed a bit worried about the trailing edges of the wings) he kept pushing and pulling gently on the trailing edges of the wings. I replied that our 'aerobatics' were mostly spins and an occasional loop or roll - in this particular airplane. My answer satisfied him and we took off for the test. I am sure that he knew of our reputation as 'aerobatic specialists,' at 'Avalon Aviation.'

Just after we landed - a 'wheel landing' directed by the Inspector - the tower directed us to 'turn left at the next taxiway.' I ignored the instruction because I was fully involved in trying to get the tail down and didn't even 'process' the tower's instruction. As we turned off the runway at the next taxiway the FAA Inspector advised tower that in these kinds of airplanes (taildraggers) it was unwise to direct pilots to make turns while the tail was still up.

I passed the test with flying colors, of course.