A very good article on endurance (“Less Power for More Range,” March 2016). I have not flown with an engine for many years. But I am an active, current and employed glider instructor.
It seems to me that power pilots seeking best endurance should avoid using an autopilot. I understand that autopilots operate elevators rather than the throttle. I’ve often wondered why one might slow their plane in sink, using up elevator, and spend more time there. Conversely, speeding up in rising air with pitch down, minimizing their time in lift. Endurance to me means keeping as much total energy (potential and kinetic) as possible.
