Take of from gravel bar into the canyon, there was a breeze coming from the canyon and gravel bar was way too soft, so went to the edge of the bar where the rocks are bigger to have a more solid roll out, then was followed down the river by Dave in his Stinson.

According to his indicator, you'll were cruising about 80 mph. That put you slow enough to make the sharper turns in the river.

At normal cruise of 130 or so, the extra 50 mph would provide sufficient zoom reserve to climb a couple hundred feet wings level, turn at 60, and push the nose down and onto the river in the new direction with lots of rudder. This allows any angle of bank necessary to make the turn and remain safety at 1g.

Using level turns only, a decision at some angle of bank has to be made to bail out and reduce bank or back pressure. That would become problematic where the turn would have to be continued because of restrictive terrain.

I know you guys do this all the time with route pre-planning for workable radius of river turns. I was never that good at planning so I found the energy management turn that works at any bank angle. The planning required for the energy management turn is just prior to the need to turn steeply. We have to remember to pitch up to slow down and provide potential energy for use in the descending completion of the turn. Because all turns start with wings level climb, we have to be out ahead of the aircraft.

Anyway it works well on crooked pipeline or river. It is very safe and comfortable.

Nice flight. Beautiful. Just a little scary on the tighter turns.

Contact the advice about climbing for turning works real well, I have used it after you recommended it and like doing it.

On this day I had my friend flying behind so didnt want to fly too slow or climb for turns , to avoid unnecessary challenges for him , was trying to make it as easy as possible for him to follow.

Always happy to hear your feedback and recommendations Contact, appreciated.

I thought that might be the case. Well done.