How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

On 1/14/2014 9:59 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
Bob, do you actually go through that (prolix, snipped) thought process
before *any* activity as implied? Think "analysis paralysis".

Good question...

Insofar as soaring specifically is concerned, WRT "analysis paralysis" I guess
I'd suggest several thousand hours of glider time "by definition" rules that
out. :-) But I understand your question. I'll admit to once or twice actually
thinking consciously prior to some flights that
stupidity/forgetfulness/thinning-of-margins/new-situations could get me killed
THIS flight, and - no - the conscious thought isn't a deterrent. Landing
patterns and takeoffs also fairly routinely trigger active such "Get this
wrong and die," thoughts in my mind, too. But most of the thinking occurred
after flights (personal remembrances, reliving, etc.), after reading accident
reports, daydreaming about soaring, etc. But there's been enough OF such
conscious, more or less analytical, thinking to have burned it into my
conscious, subconscious and fundamental approach to the silly sport. There's
also been many a gliderport-based bull session comparing notes with other
pilots about great flights, and dumb decision-making, plus "the usual"
0-beer-thirty type situations in which the topics of thought patterns and
decision-making have come up, often with humorous bonhomie along the lines of
"What were you *thinking?"* and "Here's how *I* think about such things..."
back and forth. I'm sure you've many hours of the same.

Or maybe I misread an attempt to put a wealth of knowledge and experience
which now boils down to "gut feeling" into words (probably a more accurate
assessment).

How does one get a gut feel? How does one refine a gut feel to reflect
ever-increasing knowledge? Being something of an analytical kind of thinker,
mine evolves largely from knowledge intake (reading, directed brain-picking,
listening, etc.) and active - and probably sleep-based - consideration.


I have never, and I mean NEVER, approached an aircraft with the thought
that I might die during this flight. If I felt that way, I wouldn't even
get in.

Everyone's different (duh!), but other activities beyond soaring I can think
of off the top of my head, where I've thought actively beforehand I might
die/suffer permanent injury from participation, have included
boulder-scrambling, driving, operating machinery (farm, machine tools), using
ladders, mixing chemicals, doing 120VAC wiring, enjoying lightning outdoors (I
always keep or post a good lookout, ha ha!) and undoubtedly others that
additional reflection would resurrect.

On the other hand, after 41 years of flying (about 24 in gliders), I have
come to recognize that there many things well within my skill set that I
just don't do. I don't think, "This might just kill me", though I know at
some subcouscious level that it can. Instead I simply think, "Why - how
will this improve my flight?" and then simply don't bother.

Two glaring examples: The other day at the conclusion of a flight, I
thought of doing a giant barrel roll simply for the joy of seeing the world
upside down. But I didn't. I've done countless rolls in jets, props, and
gliders, and I simply don't "need" to do them any more (not to mention the
fact that aerobatics are prohibited by my flight manual). A few minutes
later a look at my state vector showed that I had just the right position
and altitude to fly a low pass over the hangars, ramp, and runway. Same
thought... "Why?" I don't care about impressing anyone on the ground and
I really don't need the rush any more. I haven't done either of those
meneuvers in over 15 years. Maybe that's why I'm an old fart now.

"Roger that," and BTDT!" My "need for zoomies" lasted maybe 2 soaring seasons
once I felt I'd gained the requisite skills and knowledge to do 'em with (as I
defined it then) "reasonable safety." Likewise, closeness to mountainous
terrain as a goal in and of itself evolved pretty rapidly (dry chuckle). My
motivation has always been to live to participate another day, with the same
equipment, because life is so much fun!


BTW, have you ever seen the occupants of an aircraft immediately after the
crash? It's enough to make you give up stupid tricks.

Just in pictures and my imagination...and both are more than enough, thank
you. Hey! Maybe a vivid imagination is strongly correlated to pilot longevity?

Bob - not OBVIOUSLY anal? - W.