I Didn't Expect This...

A Radical Alternative to College

Sunday, April 13th, 2025

Writing to you from Denver, Colorado

I flew a plane this past week…at least for 95% of the flight.

In late November or early December of last year I made the decision to take the Competent Crew course aboard the Amundsen in the Falkland Islands. Along with that, I planned to come back to the states to become a private pilot and work as an EMT on wildfires again.

Well, one of those boxes is checked and the other two are in-progress…

While I was learning to sail, I had several of my crew mates tell me about how similar sailing is to flying, and how it was great that I was going to learn one after the other.

I didn’t realize just how right they were until this past week.

The only two major differences between sailing and flying that I have seen thus far is that maneuvers take longer in sailing and you don’t have to deal with as much traffic…oh and landing and taking off, of course.

Of course, there’s lots of other small differences, but the primary operations seem very similar.

Navigation, the sensitivity of the controls, right-of-way rules, some terminology, communication, the effects of wind, and aiming for a good angle of attack (to keep the wind in the sails or maintain lift) - it’s all pretty much the same.

It was a pleasant surprise to realize this and a complete accident that I chose to learn to sail and fly in the same year.

Two Flights

I was able to fly twice this past week for a total of 2.4 hours.

During the first flight I was able to taxi, takeoff, and do a few maneuvers while we were up, but I didn’t land the plane. It was awesome. We flew over Red Rocks before heading east to do some sharp banks and whats called “slow flight” (flying close to stall speed with the full flaps down and trying to maintain speed and altitude). After that we did a quick circle around Denver .

Then, the instructor took the controls and brought us in for the landing.

Technically, this was my discovery flight, but the hours from that do count to getting my PPL. So, that’s nice even though it was just 1.2 hours.

Needless to say, I signed up for more flight lessons as soon as I could. After all, I don’t really care to be in the U.S. longer than necessary. The goal is get my PPL (by flying as often as possible), work on wildfires for a few months, and get out.

My second flight was good too.

The one problem I have, which apparently is pretty common, is the use of the rudder on the ground. I don’t have any problems with it in flight, but it’s difficult to control the left and right movements of the aircraft while taxiing and in takeoff.

You’re supposed to hold a little bit of right rudder on takeoff due to the aircraft’s left turning tendency, that way when you lift off it won’t bank to the left. Well, on this past takeoff I was holding too much right rudder, which caused the plane to swerve to the right on the runway.

Here’s a video of what I mean about adding right rudder on takeoff:

It’s a balancing act, that’s for sure.

But, the rest of the flight went well. We practiced more slow flight and the instructor showed me how to conduct a power-on and power-off stall.

A power-off stall is supposed to simulate a stall while going in for a landing - full flaps down, low speed, and idle power for a glide. A power-on stall is the opposite, it’s supposed to simulate what a stall might look like in takeoff or in a climb - full throttle and a nose-high attitude.

But, the cause for the stall is the same in both: Exceeding the critical angle of attack. Unequal airflow over the wings (caused by a nose-high attitude…at least one that is great enough to go over the critical angle of attack) causes both wings to stall - starting at the wing root (by the fuselage) and then stalling the wingtips.

It’s not speed, but the angle of attack that’s the issue.

Anyway, stalls are fun. It’s like going on a rollercoaster - slowly making your way to the top…then all of a sudden you feel your stomach drop as the nose falls forward.

Study

I’ve still been making my way through the online ground school (the academic portion of flight school) on my own time.

Unfortunately, I don’t have anything interesting to relay to you from it today because most of all of the studying was about FAA regulations and all of the rules pilots must abide by.

Not fun.

However, something that I do enjoy studying is Stick and Rudder, a book written by Wolfgang Langewiesche.

I’m about halfway through the book at the moment and have already been able to apply some of the knowledge while flying. Wolfgang greatly simplifies the effects of wind on the airplane, use of controls, and he goes over common mistakes and misconceptions that new pilots have.

Highly recommend it for anyone looking to get their PPL. In fact, this book was recommended to me by a pilot up in Alaska who has been flying for quite some time.

Physical and Mental Training

Attended 4 BJJ classes

I haven’t gotten my fire certification I need to work on wildfires this year yet, but when I do there’s no telling when I’ll be sent out. So, I’m trying to make the most of my time by going to as many BJJ classes as possible without getting burnt out.

I was able to hit four 1-hour classes this week before getting fatigued.

Working out + BJJ + flying + studying does take a lot out of you.

Worked out (3 out of 7 days)

Between the workout I get from the BJJ classes and the time in the gym, it seems like I’m starting to build back muscle again, which is good.

While training BJJ this past week I did notice that it was more difficult for me to lift people than it used to be. Of course, the solution to that is to keep working out and eating more.

Spanish practice (4 out of 7 days)

At the moment, my only goal with Spanish to make sure I can maintain the level I’m at. Once I start working on wildfires my goal will shift back to trying to improve my Spanish. But, for now, 1 hour of Spanish practice using Michel Thomas’ courses is good enough.

Chess practice (7 out of 7 days)

The goal of the chess practice is to slowly improve over time, but also to discipline myself to do something consistently for at least an hour a day.

But, ever since I spent time with a friend (and good chess player) in Washington state, I have been able to make some small improvements in my playing.

Additional Reading

• Finished reading Epictetus’ Discourses

  

  I read this book in the past, but wanted to go over it again to focus my attention on what matters. I read through Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and these discourses often to do that.

Here’s one of the best quotes from the book:

“It is circumstances that show what men are. So, when a difficult circumstance befalls you, remember that god, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a tough young man. ‘For what purpose’, he says. That you may become an Olympic victor.”

Things I Published

Monday, April 7th:

The Cycle Continues

Tuesday, April 8th:

The Path of Hercules

Wednesday, April 9th:

Optimizing for Success

Thursday, April 10th:

Life is Fragile

And, as a bonus, I recommend watching this video with Mike Farris and my father where they talk a little more about The Preparation:

The Preparation: A Radical Alternative to College

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Are these updates informative? Are they useful? Entertaining?

Leave a comment below if you’ve got any suggestions or questions for me.

And don’t forget to send this to someone who might benefit.

I’ll see you next week.

-Maxim Benjamin Smith

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I am acting as a guinea pig for a program which is meant to prepare young men for the future. This program is designed to be a replacement for the only three routes advertised to young men today - go to college, the military, or a dead-end job.

All of these typical routes of life are designed to shape us into cogs for a wheel that doesn’t serve us. Wasted time, debt, lack of skills, and a soul crushing job define many who follow the traditional route.

This program, which we can call “The Preparation”, is meant to guide young men on a path where they properly utilize their time to gain skills, build relationships, and reach a state of being truly educated. The Preparation is meant to set young men up for success.

What appeals to me about The Preparation is the idea of the type of man I could be. The path to becoming a skilled, dangerous, and competent man is much more clear now. I’ve always been impressed by characters like The Count of Monte Cristo, men who accumulated knowledge and skills over a long period of time and eventually became incredibly capable men.

Young men today do not have a guiding light. We have few mentors and no one to emulate. We have been told that there are only a few paths to success in this world. For intelligent and ambitious people - college is sold to us as the one true path. And yet that path seems completely uncertain today.

We desperately need something real to grab onto. I think this is it.

I’m putting the ideas into action. Will it work? I can’t be sure, but I’m doing my best. I’m more than 60 weeks into the program at this point. So far, so good.

You can follow me along as I follow the program. Each week, I summarize all that I did.

My objective in sharing this is three fold:

1. Documenting my progress holds me accountable.

2. I hope these updates will show other young men that there is another path we can take.

3. For the parents who stumble upon this log, I want to prove to you that telling your children that the conventional path - college, debt, and a job is not the foolproof path you think it is.