Thread: Changing a wheel in midair!!

I found this 'Conversation' interesting, although I was disappointed to see that both the interviewer and the author were very disparaging about the standard of aviation in the period mainly discussed.

They saw equipment and standards from the viewpoint of today - makes about as much sense as marvelling at the same people driving round in cars with only two wheel brakes, no seat belts, no safety glass etc etc, which they certainly did.

This did not mean that you could not drive or fly reasonably safely - and Taylor was one of those who did (perhaps unlike Kingsford-Smith), and unlike some, he died in his old age in his own bed. As the old saying goes - there are old pilots, and bold pilots; but no old, bold pilots.

Taylor was someone who was good at risk management, and made meticulous preparation. This showed especially in his pioneering trans-ocean flights, which hardly rated a mention in this discussion.

John