Short Final: Pugachev’s Cobra

F-22 Raptors at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot flying a Skylane near Palo Alto received an instruction from NORCAL to hold their current position.
  • The pilot humorously considered responding with a suggestion of an advanced, impossible "Pugachev's cobra" maneuver before complying with standard "right 360s."
  • The article concludes with the pilot's lighthearted reflection that their slow, steady Skylane cannot hover, but they wish it could.
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Returning to Palo Alto airport from the East on a short flight through the busy Bay Area airspace, I was admiring Mount Diablo at 4500 feet when NORCAL instructed, “Skylane XYZ hold your current position.”

I was extremely tempted to respond “NORCAL, Skylane XYZ commencing ‘Pugachev’s cobra’ maneuver,” but said instead “Skylane XYZ right 360s.”

The humble Skylane goes slow and steady but cannot hover! Maybe one day.

Ivo Linev
Berkeley, California

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