The Original Palm Pilot…

Some things, and behaviors, need names. Some of us remember the 1980’s craze of Sniglets, and how names for even the simplest items, things, behaviors were given names. I generally found them entertaining, if not just a bit silly (which I like on occasion).

However, there are some things that are in desperate need of naming. As such, I submit that the behavior of thrusting one’s hand outside the window of a moving vehicle (aircraft in-flight excluded), and “playing” airplane be called…Palm Pilot!



We’ve all done this. Each of us has experimented with drag coefficients (palm parallel to the road, moving effortlessly through the atmosphere versus held perpendicular, which increases the drag, thereby raising the coefficient), pressure differentials (tip the hand up and the palm rises, down and it drops), and the concept of “drafting” which is done by ducking in behind the rear-view mirror where there is less drag and less turbulent air.

Now, I must admit this form of flying is for the “open-cockpit” types, those brave soles who venture into the wild blue sans Lexan canopies to guard them. They brave the prop wash with only goggles, silk scarves, and sheer panache! In the context of this idea, that means turn off the AC, turn up the radio, and roll down the window.

This could go far! Mini flight helmets and goggles, with tiny silk scarves attached to a glove you wear whilst driving. And for those of us with slower, more rugged-terrain type vehicles, perhaps…dare I say…a mini Pith?

So, now when you are out supporting big oil, big business and big war by driving your big car with the big gas tank (and bill), you can take solice in knowing that you too can fly the friendly skies…