Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

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Aero-Tips 08.08.06

Here's something to include on your next Flight Review (if not before):

Pitch + Power = Performance. This simple equation helps us predictably fly an airplane. Pitch may be expressed as an indication on an attitude indicator/artificial horizon, or in a visual pitch attitude as seen out the windscreen (the redundantly-named "sight picture").

For a given power setting there is a single pitch attitude that results in a desired aircraft performance. Most performance figures are defined by an angle-of-attack (AoA). In most flight regimes there is a direct correlation between AoA and an indicated airspeed and, since most light airplanes do not have AoA-measuring devices, we obtain an approximate AoA by flying an indicated airspeed. So for practical purposes Performance = Airspeed, or Pitch + Power = Airspeed.

This is why there is a particular sight picture for, say, Vx attitude for a short-field takeoff, or for flying down the final approach course at a stabilized approach speed. For a given amount of power (takeoff power for Vx, near idle for final approach) there is a specific pitch attitude that results in desired airspeed.

What if Power = 0? We want to fly, in most cases, at the airplane's Best Glide speed to get optimum performance (Airspeed = Performance). It stands to reason, then, that there is a specific Pitch that results in best glide speed when Power = 0.

And here's your goal: with an experienced instructor pilot (for instance, during your next Flight Review), practice the engine-failure/best glide configuration, paying attention to the Pitch necessary to remain on Best Glide speed. Now you know, in the event of an actual emergency, where to put the nose to get maximum glide performance.

• If your engine quits while you're climbing or descending, adjust the Pitch to the glide attitude immediately.
• If the engine fails in cruise flight, hold altitude as airspeed decreases; as it nears Best Glide speed, adjust Pitch to your target visual or instrument attitude, and Best Glide speed will result.

Aero-tip of the day: Learn the Best Glide pitch attitude for the airplane(s) you fly.

FMI: Aero-Tips