Talk Back

Real-world plans

Practical cross-country tips

Greg Brown’s article “Planning for Someday” (June 2017 Flight Training) takes the mystique out of the cross-continent flight. It really is a series of well-planned long cross-country flights. With some assistance in choosing the most favorable routes, I may be able to achieve this goal.

Lenny Windham
Raleigh, North Carolina

All great points. I especially like the approach of simply a series of routine cross-country flights strung together and focus on safely completing the next leg. Flexibility is key.

Steve Chambers
Milwaukie, Oregon

To err is human

I wanted to thank Ian J. Twombly for his recent article “Brush it Off.” I’m an 18-year-old student pilot. On Tuesday, I was under the impression that I would do my first solo flight. I had run through every step of the process many times, only to be disappointed. I made a few small mistakes that eventually deteriorated my confidence and performance during the presolo flight with my instructor. We landed, and I went home without soloing. I was frustrated with myself, and I felt like the only person in the world who made a mistake that day.

Luckily, the June 2017 issue of Flight Training came that day, and I read the article about the countless mistakes other pro pilots have made. I couldn’t keep from smiling as I read the article; it was perfect timing. You made me realize I wasn’t the only one, and I am happy to say I brushed it off. I regained my confidence for the next time I went to the airport, my instructor checked me off, and I completed my first solo flight. I know soloing is, of course, a “solo” effort, but I owe a great deal of thanks to the contributors of the article.

A.C. Baker
York, Pennsylvania

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