What unusual sights have you spotted?

Question: What airplanes did you fly?

– Nate, New York City

Answer: In my airline career: First Officer – Nihon YS11A. First Officer – Boeing 737-200. Captain/instructor – Fokker F-28. Captain –Boeing 737- 200, 300, 400.

Captain – Airbus A319, 320, 321. I flew as a corporate pilot prior to working for airlines and flew various corporate turbo-props and jets.

Q: From a General Aviation pilot to another pilot, although you don’t fly for a career anymore, do you ever do any GA flying in your off time?

– Kris A., Branford, Connecticut

A: I get to fly GA aircraft occasionally. It is a treat and something I look forward to.

Q: With all of the talk of pilots spotting drones, birds, etc., from the cockpit, I’m curious if you ever spotted something unusual while flying in your career?

– Lexi, Canfield, Ohio

A: I have seen many birds, some unusual weather balloons, the northern lights and satellites streaking across the sky. A few unusual ultra-light aircraft, some unexpected fireworks and a couple of military airplanes I couldn’t identify. Some of these were unusual but nothing that concerned me.

Q: I spent 23 years in naval aviation as a maintenance type, F-14As mostly. Read with interest your comments on yaw strings. There is no cockpit indication of yaw in an F-14A. Guess what we used?

– Bryan Carrubba, Louisville, Mississippi

A: I did not realize the F-14 used a yaw string, thanks for clarifying that.

John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways.