Dudley Henriques wrote:
Shirl wrote:
Ol Shy & Bashful wrote:
In my opinion, the pilot who is comfortable throughout the entire
speed range of their aircraft is a properly trained pilot and one who
will not get into an inadvertant stall, or spin.
What are your thoughts?

I think what you said makes complete sense.
But I always wonder how people define "comfortable"? I was trained
the way you described and have repeated the drill more regularly than
some. I can do it if asked or necessary, I understand it, and I know
how my airplane acts. But I don't *like* flying at that edge of the
envelope. Does that mean I'm "uncomfortable"?

No. You never really want to feel completely "comfortable" in the
airplane. You always want to be performing on that "edge" of awareness
when flying that keeps you ahead of the "comfortable" area and more
into the "alert" area. In other words, the correct mental attitude
while flying is one of being relaxed, but on guard and alert....just a
bit on edge as they say......to put it bluntly...SHARP!

Wow, is that well put! That explains it. I've always wondered why it was
never an intellectually and emotionally disconnected event like driving
a car. You have to be ON it. The whole time. So I'm supposed to feel
that way when I'm flying? Cool, I thought there was something wrong that
I had to overcome. Thanks Dudley.

Thread related content...Mastering slow flight is critical to
understanding the envelope your plane operates in. Just like no flap
landings, full flap landings, stalls, engine out procedures etc.
Personally based on my training experience, "mastering" slow flight was
one of the most difficult, particularly during my instrument training.
The sloppiness/looseness of the aircraft coupled the higher degree of
precision required to fly correctly within PTS was a great training
exercise.

KC