Conversation in the Cockpit
Our June 19th 2019 dinner meeting featured our own DAFer Cliff Tatum. After an early stint as an actor, Cliff joined the ROTC, and then became a combat fighter pilot for the Air Force, and later for the Navy. He continued his aviation career as a captain for Alaska Airlines. On reaching the magic age he was not ready to retire from aviation, so he continued his career flying worldwide as captain of a G-IV.To better understand his crew interaction experiences, Cliff earned a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. Cliff coupled his academic training with his broad aviation experience to help himself and his peers understand the psychology of human interactions in multi-crewed cockpit situations. Using experiences gained as a crew and his formal research in conflict resolution, Cliff created this dinner presentation for us: "Conversation and conflict resolution in the cockpit".
Cliff explained that there are three main decision-making elements that affect cockpit (and other) conversations: headwork, personality, and attitude. In spite of all the headwork, the end game in cockpit conversations is often set by the Pilot In Command's personality and attitude. This affects the PIC's tone, and tone alone, as much as facts, can lead to disagreements and delays when resolving interesting and urgent flight situations.
During dessert, as a bonus, Cliff administered a multiple-choice self-evaluation test to the dinner guests. He taught us that while our answers could range from 1 (that's not me) to 5 (that's me), we should never answer with a 3 (I am not sure who I am). This helped us bias our answers towards either end of the range so that we would paint a clearer picture of our own conflict resolution strategies. Cliff then read "parables", and we wrote down how well each parable described ourselves. The pattern of our answers, digitally (using our fingers) processed by each guest, lead to each individual getting a clear picture of his or her own conversational style.
Cliff’s presentation was not so much about determining other persons' styles of conversation as it was about learning our own style, By knowing ourselves better, we can minimize conflict in conversations in the cockpit. What is your style of conversation?
Home Style Brisket
This year weather kept the Flaming Brisket grounded, but the food was great anyway! With an overcast in the picture the destination switched from Agua Dulce to the east Ts grass area at the east end. Chairs and tables were quickly borrowed from the Western Museum of Flying, cornhole and horseshoes were set up, and presto we had a picnic! At least forty DAFers and friends showed up to feast on Mitch's brisket and the great assortment of sides brought by the Flyers. Good conversation followed, and some who couldn't have flown were able to joint in.
Over the windmills to Tehachapi we go
On Saturday May 18th 24 DAFERS in 11 airplanes made it to the Tehachapi Airport and made the short walk over to the Red House BBQ. With the weather we had earlier in the week it was questionable if the winds and rain were going to take a break, but the skies cleared and predicted winds were supposed to arrive late afternoon. Briefing and departure were extra busy at KTOA with the preparations for Armed Forces Day, but we got a front row preview of the aircraft, military and police that were staging for parade later in the day. So those on the fly in were treated to a wonderful trip to Tehachapi, and even better was the BBQ at Red House BBQ. Red House BBQ is a popular place with locals and draws a pretty good crowd from all over, we were rewarded by great BBQ and weather was nice enough to sit outside. They had many choices on the menu which made it hard to decide, but we all managed somehow.
On the way home a couple of people took an aerial view of the Tehachapi loop. We all beat the predicted winds and weather coming home. All in all it was a great time and the weather cooperated.
Early Bird Jenny makes her debut!
Our May 15 dinner program featured DAF speaker Rhon Williams, who presented details of his epic 13 year, very fulfilling, incredibly complex journey building a 2/3 scale Early Bird Jenny biplane from scratch. When Rhon began this project in 2002 at Compton Airport, it was a group project, but as time went on it basically became his solo project. It was completed in 2015.Rhon has spent 6,200 hours of his time on the project so far. Rhon was constantly challenged figuring out what parts to use and how to find them. In many cases, he made his own parts.
The Jenny's 3 cylinder engine is adapted from a Geo Metro car.
Rhon learned to create prototypes of structures, get them right, and then build tools from these prototypes to build the airworthy parts installed in the aircraft. Rhon had to develop skills in woodworking, sheet metal, welding, fabric covering, painting, and all other skills required to scratch build from plans. He took weekend classes through EAA to gain some of the skills needed. His EAA friends helped with everything. Rhon noted that this kind of project makes you lucky.
Rhon's perseverance paid off on December 30, 2015 at Chino Airport when he flew Jenny for the first time, 100 years after the 1st Jenny flight!
The Early Bird Jenny cruises at 65 mph, rotates at 50 mph, and stalls at 45 mph. Not much difference between those speeds! The Jenny currently is based at Compton Airport and can fly without restrictions. Kudos to Rhon's wife Vickie who was an enthusiastic supporter of his endeavor over the years.
A special thank you to Rhon for sharing with us the details of his extraordinary accomplishment in a well documented presentation which allowed us DAFers to understand so much of his journey.