http://www.theonion.com/4006/opinion1.html
Brian
I dunno about that article, but I thought that this quote from “Gay Marriage: What do you think” was classic:
Well, he does have a point. Not that it makes him correct.
When you do your initial flight training, the emphasis should be on keeping your eyes outside the cockpit, not pegged on instruments.
Of course, I’ not sure why he is starting out in a Jetranger. Probably not the best choice there.
I vote for “amusing.”
Talk about necessitating a “collective” sigh!
Ummm. . . RotorHead, you’re just playing along, right?
I vote for funny.
It’s how I felt after spending all that time under a hood getting an IFR rating:
And they joke about teaching pilots to “fly” again when they do the Private-Instrument-Commercial sequence.
Best regards,
Mooney252
Okay guys, let’s be really clear here. The Onion is a parody newspaper. Nothing in it, including the editorial columns, is for real. It’s all tongue-in-cheek.
ShibbOleth and lieu are familiar with it, but unless I’m seriously whoosed here, the rest of you have missed out on one of life’s snarky pleasures. Take a look at it at onion.com
A lot more than a Robbo or a Schweizer! (I’ve never been in a JetRanger. Too expensive.)
My instructors’ advice: “Fly over the highest pint of the pylons. That way you’re sure to be above the wires.”
Gotta look outside if you want to hover! (Although you also have to watch your tachs and manifold pressure.)
I found the article both amusing and disturbing. Obviously, it’s done with the tongue firmly planted in the cheek. On the other hand, some of the behaviour of both parties would be frightening if it were real.
Okay, I’ll let you in on a Pilot’s Secret™. Most of the gauges are just there for show. But don’t tell anyone, or else everyone will want to be a pilot! 
I hope you realize that The Onion is a fake newspaper.
OPer here.
I am well aware that the Onion is a satirical(sp?) publication.
Even tho airplanes (at least the ones I fly) are less complicated than helicopters, I can undersatnd where the “columnist” is coming from. But “every one knows you have a few gallons when it reads empty” is scary esp confidering how many GA accidents happen due to fuel starvation.
Brian
Don’t sweat it. I get it.
I’ve had real flight students that thought that way. That part is scary sometimes. Thus, my vote for “amusing.”
I’m taking this to a meeting today where we are discussing instrumentation for a research plane we’re developing. Ought to be fun… 