Saturday, 7 June 1997 Bill Wunsch wrote to Keith Jillings
 BW> That is the one thing frequently overlooked in the pros and
 BW> cons of spin training. Sort of similar to "twin engine safety" -
 BW> stats would indicate that more people die after engine failure in
 BW> twins than in singles.
 The way it was put to me by a very good friend and CFI, when I
 suggested a twin rating, was
 1.  The twin isn't necessarily any faster, but burns lots more fuel.
 2.  If one engine stops, you have to be quick to avoid serious
     embarrassment or worse.
 3.  The main reason for one engine failing is running out of fuel.
     The second engine usually fails soon after.
 He went on to explain that to get a much faster twin, you then pay a
 lot more money.   I was flying his Cardinal C177RG at the time, and
 that was cheap, fast, and suited me fine.   Never did a twin rating.
 BW> Better than a parachute. I was reading not too long ago about
 BW> new aircraft now being certified with a built in parachute to bring
 BW> the entire craft down to the ground safely. But the the rate of
 BW> decent they were quoting was quite high - something 1800fpm if I
 BW> recall correctly. Would make quite a dust cloud when it hits.
 I read an alarming article in one of the UK magazines.  It said the
 strange insanity that Americans have regarding lawsuits will probably
 mean all new light aircraft will have to have these parachutes,
 whether they are shown to improve safety or not.   Apparently once
 you've pulled the ripcord, there's no way to dump the chute, and the
 aircraft will be a total wreck after it's returned to earth.
 I think better training would be greater value-for-money.
 All these parachutes are likely to prove is that once lawyers get
 into anything, it becomes a) expensive and b) useless.  I was told
 the price of a new Piper or Cessna is 50% aircraft and 50% the
 premium for lifetime insurance against litigation in the event some
 idiot kills himself and the ambulance-chasers get to work on the family.
 Greetings from Keith Jillings (2:257/71.10)
.!. There is no gravity -- the earth sucks!
--- Terminate 4.00/Pro
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