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 A special recognition this month, the Lightfoot Award, goes to Lynn Kerby of Grass Valley, California. Lynn is changing his brake pads for the first time after logging 228 lightfooted hours. So far, that's the StingSport record for brake pad conservation.
The photo at left is of Lynn and his son, Gavin, who traveled together to take delivery of a StingSport last fall and experience the transition orientation program at the SportairUSA headquarters in central Arkansas. In Lynn's own words: "[Bill Canino] installed such a fear in me of using the brakes (dragging in particular) that I got 228 hours out of my first linings; in spite of the fact that my home airport has a 1% down slope on the most commonly used runway for landings. Here's a picture of me with my son Gavin who has put quite a few of the 228 hours on the plane and therefore deserves credit for the 'conservative' brake useage; of course he also got the lecture on brake useage while we were getting the delivery training before heading out to California. Two things I will never forget from Bill's indoctrination; 1) never drag the brakes, and 2) never use anything other than the blue rags on the canopy. It works!!"
Lynn's technique is simple, and we can all learn from him:
• To shed excess speed while taxiing: apply the brakes smoothly and continuously until the taxi speed drops to 4 -5 mph, then just as smoothly release the brakes. Repeat when speed again builds up.
• To turn: reduce speed before the turn. Use the nose gear linked rudder pedals to turn. Apply differential braking only when necessary to complement the rudder pedal.
• Keep your toes off the brakes when taxiing (some folks use the duck foot approach, with toes splayed outward and just the balls of their feet on the rudder bars), except when applying the brakes intentionally. In other words, don't ride the brakes.
• Plan ahead, avoid situations that might require prolonged braking.
• Always apply and release brakes smoothly and progressively.
• Adjust the rudder/brake pedals, if necessary, to make it easier to avoid inadvertent braking. (See "The Toolbox," below, for tips on adjusting the brake pedal angle.)
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