Thursday morning, Marie and I flew the Coyote, running through basic and emergency procedures, drilling with simulated forced landings.

During a simulated landing on April 6, the altimeter reading had the space shuttle cruising on approach to the runway at 4,000 feet below sea level.

From the archives of Discovery: During this simulated landing, an aviation student pays careful attention to the instruments and readings.

It was advertised as a simulated beachside landing, featuring the very first wave pool, and public and private cabanas.

The plane was doing a simulated landing stall.

But then Crowfoot said, "Well, simulated landings, of course."

The $21 million center should be performing simulated landings on various types of concrete by the end of 1998, said Les Dorr, a spokesman for the F.A.A.

In preparation for the invasion of that island, Waters participated in simulated amphibious landings at Kukum Beach on Guadalcanal on 26 October.

The Navy has owned the 56-square-mile island since 1933, using it mainly for ship-to-shore bombardment training and for practicing simulated landings on an aircraft carrier.

"You might want to practice some simulated landings, too."