Chapter 3
Basic Flight Maneuvers
Common errors in the performance of descents and descending turns are:
- Failure to adequately clear for aircraft traffic in the turn direction or descent.
- Inadequate elevator back pressure during glide entry resulting in an overly steep glide.
- Failure to slow the airplane to approximate glide speed prior to lowering pitch attitude.
- Attempting to establish/maintain a normal glide solely by reference to flight instruments.
- Inability to sense changes in airspeed through sound and feel.
- Inability to stabilize the glide (chasing the airspeed indicator).
- Attempting to “stretch” the glide by applying back-elevator pressure.
- Skidding or slipping during gliding turns and not recognizing the difference in rudder forces with and without power.
- Failure to lower pitch attitude during gliding turn entry resulting in a decrease in airspeed.
- Excessive rudder pressure during recovery from gliding turns.
- Inadequate pitch control during recovery from straight glide.
- Cross-controlling during gliding turns near the ground.
- Failure to maintain constant bank angle during gliding turns.
Chapter Summary
The four fundamental maneuvers of straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents are the foundation of basic airmanship. Effort and continued practice are required to master the fundamentals. It is important that a pilot consider the six motions of flight: bank, pitch, yaw and horizontal, vertical, and lateral displacement. In order for an airplane to fly from one location to another, it pitches, banks, and yaws while it moves over and above, in relationship to the ground, to reach its destination. The airplane should be treated as an aerodynamic vehicle that is subject to rigid aerodynamic laws. A pilot needs to understand and apply the principles of flight in order to control an airplane with the greatest margin of mastery and safety.