In rec.aviation.student Mxsmanic wrote:
Michael Ash writes:

What a total non sequitur. The idealism was referring to your statement
that it would be great if pilots could just concentrate on the flying and
ignore the engine. Well it's true, it would be great, but there's this
little thing called reality which gets in the way.

Reality didn't seem to get in the way of simplification in airliners. You
don't see too many flight engineers these days.

There's a difference between simplifying something and eliminating it.

Airliners may have better engine management systems but it's still there.

Yes, but it's done by computer, not the pilots, and design improvements have
made management less necessary.

Not all of it is done by the computer. The pilots still have to know how
the stuff works and how to run it. It is largely to the point where they
can push the lever and get the power, but not 100%. If you believe
otherwise, just look at the circumstances surrounding the recent 777 crash
at Heathrow. The computers didn't save those pilots from a dual flameout
on short final.

And don't paint all private pilots with the same brush.

I don't. There are plenty of smart ones around.

I really have to wonder if you realize just how unbelievably insulting
that statement is. If I didn't already view you as being an arrogant and
useless idiot I might get mad....

From what I've
seen, for a significant proportion of these guys, getting maximum
performance out of the engine, minimizing fuel burn, holding CHT to the
exact right value, and tweaking that last few miles of range out of the
engine is an enormous thrill. I don't share in that enthusiasm myself but
it's definitely there in some guys.

So flying isn't really their purpose, it's just incidental.

Your obsession with people's "purpose" is bizarre and nonsensical.
Anything you do while piloting an airplane is "flying", whether it's
cruisng steadily or endlessly fiddling with the engine levers. People fly
for many reasons, and they don't have to meet your insane ideas of
"purpose" to do it.

By your definition, my purpose isn't "flying", it's interpreting weather,
finding lift, planning routes, etc.

By your definition, someone who uses his airplane to fly to meetings
doesn't have "flying" as his purpose, it's just incidental.

Someone who flies around to look at the scenery, ditto. Or enjoys the
challenge of IMC, or chatting with ATC, or the feeling they get from
performing aerobatics.

So, I ask you: what does one have to do in order for "flying" to be their
purpose? And why should anyone care?

--
Mike Ash
Radio Free Earth
Broadcasting from our climate-controlled studios deep inside the Moon