strongly the necessity for forming correct habits in fl ying  straight and level. All flight is in essence a deviation from  this fundamental flight maneuver. It is not uncommon to  find a pilot whose basic flying ability consistently falls just  short of minimum expected standards, and upon analyzing  the reasons for the shortcomings discover that the cause is  the inability to fly straight and level properly. principles of attitude flying, that position should be cross- checked occasionally against the altimeter to determine  whether or not the throttle setting and pitch attitude are  correct. If altitude is being gained or lost, the pitch attitude  should be readjusted with the throttle in relation to the  horizon. Then, recheck the altimeter to determine if altitude  is being maintained and adjust the throttle accordingly. The  throttle setting for this condition should be noted and all  future changes in weight, trim speed, and density altitude  referenced to this known throttle setting. In learning to control the aircraft in level flight, it is important  that the control forces be exerted just enough to produce the  desired result. Some wings are more responsive than others.  The student should learn to associate the apparent movement  of the control bar with the response in pitch and roll. In this  way, the student can develop the ability to regulate the change  desired in the aircraft’s attitude by the amount and direction  of forces applied to the controls without the necessity of  referring to outside references for each minor correction.  After level flight is mastered in calm air, it can be practiced  in air that is moving, minor turbulence or “active air.” The  throttle settings for similar weight, trim, and density altitude  are the same, but more pilot input is required to maintain a  constant altitude. The throttle is used to maintain a selected  distance above the reference point for local air movement, but  the pitch pressure (nose up or nose down) is used to control  this attitude for shorter duration air disturbances.  Straight-and-level flight is flight in which a constant  heading and altitude are maintained. It is accomplished by  making immediate and measured corrections for deviations  in direction and altitude from unintentional slight turns,  descents, and climbs. Level flight is a matter of consciously  fixing the relationship of the position of something on the  aircraft, used as a reference point with a point on the horizon.  In establishing the reference point on the aircraft, place the  aircraft in the desired position and select a reference point.  A typical reference point on the WSC aircraft is a point on  the front tube. Typically, updrafts or thermals raise the nose of the aircraft  and downdrafts at the edge of thermals lower the nose of the  aircraft. For minor updrafts the nose is lowered by pitch control  input by the pilot slightly increasing the speed of the aircraft  to keep the pitch at a constant level. In moderate to severe  updrafts, the throttle can be reduced to assist in maintaining  a reasonably constant pitch angle with the horizon.  The WSC aircraft reference point depends on where the  pilot is sitting, the pilot’s height (whether short or tall), and  the pilot’s manner of sitting. It is, therefore, important when  establishing this relationship, the pilot sit in a normal manner;  otherwise the points will not be the same when the normal  position is resumed.  [Figures 6-6  and  6-7] Similarly for minor downdrafts that lower the nose, the nose  is raised by pitch control input by the pilot slightly decreasing  the speed of the aircraft to keep the pitch at a constant level.  An additional caution for raising the nose and decreasing the  speed is that raising the nose too high could stall the aircraft.  Therefore, caution must be exercised in moderate downdrafts  not to reduce the speed too much to approach a stall speed/ critical angle of attack. Similar to reducing the throttle in  updrafts to reduce pitch angle, increasing the throttle typically  increases the pitch angle.  [Figure 6-8]  Straight-and-level flight should first be practiced in calm air  where the control movements determine the actual movement  through the air and air movement has minimal effect on the  aircraft’s altitude and direction.  WSC aircraft can use the front tube as a reference to align  perpendicular with the horizon and the wings leveled. It  should be noted that any time the wings are banked even  slightly, the aircraft will turn.  A trim speed needs to be set if the WSC aircraft has an infl ight  trim system or the trim speed set on the ground is used. The  throttle is adjusted so the aircraft is flying level, not climbing  or descending. This can be determined by looking at the  altimeter or the vertical speed indicator (if so equipped). The  throttle setting is the control for maintaining level flight for a  specific weight, loading, trim speed, and density altitude. The front tube can be used as an indicator to determine turn  rate. If the bar is moving side to side to any established  reference point, the aircraft is banked and should be corrected  to eliminate any turn. The objective of straight-and-level  fl ight is to detect small deviations from level fl ight as soon  as they occur, necessitating only small corrections.  Level flight is maintained by selecting some portion of the  aircraft’s nose as a reference point, and then keeping that  point in a fixed position relative to the horizon. Using the  Straight-and-level flight requires almost no application of  control pressures if the aircraft is properly trimmed and the  6-5