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Friday, September 19, 2008 12:00 AM

Ask the pilot

Was Obama in danger when his plane made an emergency landing? What's an "unforgiving" aircraft? The pilot answers readers' burning questions.
By Patrick Smith

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  • Friday, September 19, 2008 06:03 AM

    Unforgiving Cars

    Another excellent article, Patrick. Your discussion of unforgiving aircraft has direct parallels in the automotive realm. Every car currently on sale is a safe car, but some are much more forgiving than others. A Dodge Viper ACR is known as a fairly unforgiving car at high speeds. Get it wrong and big, scary things can start to happen in a hurry. By contrast, a Nissan GTR is extremely forgiving, despite its high performance capabilities. Its all-wheel drive, trick differentials, and sophisticated electronics can save a driver from all sorts of boneheaded moves.

    Both cars are extremely safe, but the skill of the driver is more important in the Viper than it is in the GTR.

    —Adamant Read Adamant's other letters

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