taking off for the first time

John,

The technique you suggest was widely used prior to and during much of
World War I when the intention was to get persons to solo as quickly as
possible (and get them into combat as soon as possible; many of whom
flew in combat with under 20 hours of total time. They also tended to
be killed on their first or second mission, life expectancy was under
30 days for most WWI pilots in the middle portion of the war). Often
airplanes with clipped wings or very small engines were used, referred
to as penguins, because they would barely get into the air, and could
not climb out of ground effect.

The technique was dropped as it was learned that landing is only one
portion of the process of learning to fly.

All the best,
Rick


John Doe wrote:
I have never piloted an aircraft. I do flight simulation from time to

time. Currently I am messing with radio controlled aircraft. There
are
simulators for that also.

Having only simulation experience, but I'm wondering about how
piloting
is taught. Getting to the point, why not use a long runway and have
the
student take off just enough for the wheels to leave the ground and
then immediately touch down?

Again, inexperienced with the real thing, but isn't landing so
difficult/critical to warrant special treatment like that?

Trainer runways are not long enough?
The wear and tear would be too much?
That maneuver would be too difficult for a beginner to coordinate?

Genuinely curious. Thank you.

The technique you suggest was widely used prior to and during much of
World War I when the intention was to get persons to solo as quickly as
possible (and get them into combat as soon as possible; many of whom
flew in combat with under 20 hours of total time. They also tended to
be killed on their first or second mission, life expectancy was under
30 days for most WWI pilots in the middle portion of the war). Often
airplanes with clipped wings or very small engines were used, referred
to as penguins, because they would barely get into the air, and could
not climb out of ground effect.

Honestly, Rick, I learn more about aviation history from your posts than
from all others, combined. Thanks for posting.

Nice article on the Bo conversion in AOPA Pilot this month, by the way.
That thing sounds like a 200 knot version of my plane!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

wrote:

Often
airplanes with clipped wings or very small engines were used, referred
to as penguins, because they would barely get into the air, and could
not climb out of ground effect.

Actually, Rick, as far as the French schools were concerned, the Penguins could
not fly at all. From what I've read, this is also true of the American Penguin
aircraft I saw pictured in Sport Pilot a year or so back. The second stage of
French flight schools was the "roller" class, which used planes such as you
describe. According to Nordhoff & Hall, the rollers "could fly, but you weren't
supposed to let them."

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

George,

Hmm, the Brits used airplanes that were capable of flight, but only in
ground effect and in a straight line. Once the student had done "solo
straights" he was moved into an airplane where he could climb and make
turns. Claude Graham-White's school is described in _The Eighth Sea_
by Frank T. Courtney, who worked there and learned to fly just prior to
the start of WWI and later flew combat in the war.

You are probably correct that the penguins could not leave the ground
at the French schools. They also used airplanes that would not climb
out of ground effect for the solo straight training, as did the Brits.
All the best,
Rick