As a student pilot above the wheat fields of eastern Washington I have become an avid reader of Flight Training magazine. I truly am a “cover to cover” reader each month and look forward to each and every new edition. So as I am reading the “Follow the River” article by W. Scott Olsen (November 2011 Flight Training) and flip to page 31 I can’t help but think that I am flying above the Snake River in Hell’s Canyon with “Suicide Point” directly up river from the aircraft. As an assistant scoutmaster of our local Boy Scout troop I have hiked into this canyon many an April but have never seen it from above. I have enjoyed 15 lunches on Suicide Point on the first Sunday of each April in the last 16 years. What a great photo. Thanks for the great magazine and I hope that I am not way off on the identity of the river.
Michael Echanove
Palouse, Washington
The photo is of the Madison River in Montana. Don’t feel bad, though, Michael. That’s the beauty of river flying; each offers something fun and unique from the air. –Ed.
SUGGESTION
I completed my checkride and the following Saturday I went to a local operation for a checkout so I could rent an airplane. I realized I had a problem and want to share this suggestion to the readers and instructors. I learned to fly in Los Angeles, a very busy airspace. I am comfortable with the airspace, but realized I had apprehension about the airports. During my training, we stayed at home base or ventured out after discussion and planning. All trips to other airports were discussed and analyzed, and I had the instructor with me. I had no vision of what was next. I took a year and a half to get my certificate, and now that I have it, I ask, “what next?” Students and instructors should add the following:
- Fly to different airports. For the first time, let the student plan the approach and if there are confusing tower directions, let the student ask for clarification. Had I done that versus my instructor quickly helping me, I would probably feel more confident going to other airports.
- As part of the training, the student should set some post-certification objectives. Fly to other locations, towered and nontowered, maybe repeat a cross-country. But set an objective and goal. Review it with the instructor for feedback. Have a “what’s next?” plan so you don’t flounder after being pushed from the nest.
I am working on my confidence and my instructors are willing to discuss what I am doing or planning, but I think I could have been further along if I'd had these during initial training.
Gary [last name withheld]
Los Angeles, California
STABILITY
I read Ian Twombly’s article on stability (“Technique: Stability,” November 2011 Flight Training) with interest. The graphic describing negative static stability is incorrect and misleading. So is the one describing neutral static stability. A system exhibiting negative static stability will react to a perturbation with an increasing amplitude in the direction of the input. The graphic shows the system returning to the original condition before departing, uncontrolled. A system exhibiting neutral static stability stops reacting as soon as the disturbance stops. If you displace an elevator, causing the aircraft to climb, a neutrally static stable airplane stops reacting. Either outcome, (1) a continued climb, or (2) level flight at the new altitude is an example of neutral static stability.
Robert Hadow
Morristown, New Jersey
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