Bay Views: Mountain Flying Tricky

The Piper Cherokee Arrow 200 is my favorite airplane. It cruises at around 143 or so in level flight and is a dream to fly. Unfortunately, with a full load of four, It climbs like a pig. You just can’t ask it to do something that it hasn’t the ability to do. I once came close to killing myself and passengers when I took off on a hot day in Omak from a short runway. I had 1200 plus hours and used bad judgement. We survived. This young man, indoubtedly more impressed with his ability and that of the aircraft than deserved, died. It is unfortunate that he took three other fine young people with him. Every student pilot learns early in his or her training one simple rule. “There are old pilots and bold pilots, but damn few old, bold pilots”/ Herb Huseland , Bay Views. More here

Question: Have you flown much in small planes? Or do you avoid them like a plague, as I do?