Teachable definition for...

[JediNein]

The others have answered the original question quite well. This is more of the 'how to teach it' answer:

Be extra careful when hanging around the mechanics, you might end up 'just helping out for a bit' and then suddenly you find yourself a certified mechanic.

While the shop mechanics may joke about up the rate to the 'if the pilot helps' level, if the mechanics don't want you around, there's something very wrong there. Either the relationship has failed, or there's something they don't want you to see. Neither is good for trusting the planes you risk your life in every day.

I just had a student pilot in an instrument repair shop last week. One of his airplane's gyros had shown signs of failing. On the test bench we confirmed the instrument had not failed, but there was a vacuum system problem. Afterwards, the student commented that he learned more in the last hour than all of his reading about instruments.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[avbug]

Just about everything provided to pilots is already "dumbed down," from aircraft flight manual information to indications in the cockpit.

 

[Tinstaafl]

Direct drive is like an engine driven lawn mower: The blades turn as the engine turns. There's no gearing or clutch mechanism between the prop & the engine to alter the revs. of the blades from what the engine is doing, such as in a car. Engine turns over at 1 RPM, prop. turns at 1 RPM. Engine turns at 1000 RPM, prop. turns at 1000 RPM etc etc

 

[JAFI]

Direct drive is like an engine driven lawn mower: The blades turn as the engine turns. There's no gearing or clutch mechanism between the prop & the engine to alter the revs. of the blades from what the engine is doing, such as in a car. Engine turns over at 1 RPM, prop. turns at 1 RPM. Engine turns at 1000 RPM, prop. turns at 1000 RPM etc etc

That is what I would call a good example..

JAFI

 

[minitour]

That is what I would call a good example..

JAFI

Yep. Thanks guys! That's exactly what I was looking for.

*writes down - lawn mower*

Thanks again!

-mini

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Extra simple version.....

Gear driven.....Bicycle with a chain. Big gear to little gear.

Direct drive.....Tricycle, Pedals attached directly to front wheel.

 

[minitour]

Extra simple version.....

Gear driven.....Bicycle with a chain. Big gear to little gear.

Direct drive.....Tricycle, Pedals attached directly to front wheel.

ah hah! very nice

-mini

 

[Lead Sled]

What's a propellor?

'Sled

 

[bafanguy]

What's a propellor?

'Sled

OK, 'sled, a propellor is a big, whirling, metal thing that sits in front of another loud, smelly, smoky, complicated collection of other metal things spinning rapidly for all the are worth.

If you really concentrate, it will all come back to you. If you can remember where you left your reading glasses, you can remember what a prop is. The sound of it all is what's so sweet.

 

[JAFI]

What's a propellor?

'Sled

I know it was a long time ago but, you may remember this...

It is the device on the front of an airplane that will turn a dog into a pink mist when the dog tries to bite the spinning device.

It doesn't do so well to people either...

JAFI