Slow Flight

[Melly]

I've got a question: when you do slow flight, is it

#1
From Cruise:
Power
Pitch
Trim

To Cruise:
Power
Pitch
Trim

OR

#2
From Cruise:
Pitch
Power
Trim

To Cruise:
Power
Pitch
Trim

Thanks!!!

 

[bobbysamd]

Slow flight entries/recoveries

My first answer would be to do it the way your instructor explained it.

Having said that, my choice would be No. 1. Reduce the power (Don't forget to pull on carb heat, if appropriate for your trainer.). Power controls airspeed, according to FAA gospel. Think about it. If your power is at cruise, even low cruise, and you pitch up your airplane will climb. You want to maintain altitude during your MCAS entry, ± 100 feet, I believe, according to your PTS.

During recovery, add power steadily but slowly. Otherwise, you'll be fighting off control pressures big time.

Trim is always the last step, according to the way I learned and taught.

Don't forget your clearing turns.

Good luck with your critically slow airspeed maneuvers.

 

[flyallday]

slow flight

The way i learned clearing turns, fuel on, mixture rich, above 1,500 feet.

power to 1700rpm
carb heat
let the airspeed bleed off until you can put in flaps
10-20-30 degrees of flaps
once you reach your desired airspeed add a little power to keep it there
dont exceed turns greater then 10degrees

I was never taught to put in trim

 

[toneal]

when is slow flight dont forget......

right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder right rudder

 

[Vardog]

Right Rudder

Amen!

 

[midlifeflyer]

Melly said:
#1
From Cruise:
Power
Pitch
Trim

OR

#2
From Cruise:
Pitch
Power
Trim

Think about it.

The basic slow flight maneuver is a constant altitude maneuver.
If you pitch from cruise first, what will the airplane do?

Ultimately, like any pitch-power combination, they work together. If you raise the nose without reducing power, you'll climb. If you reduce power without holding up the nose, you'll descend and might not even slow down.


But reducing power first tends to work better for slow flight just like it does for setting up stalls and descents for landing in the traffic pattern (ah, a common thread!)

 

[safepilot24]

I dont want to start a pitch versus power debate but for slow flight I teach my students that power is for altitude, pitch for airspeed. For example, if a student is maintaining altitude but is 5 knots low then you must add more power. If you look at the thrustline from the prop, the size of the vector increases; the vertical component of thrust is lift...to avoid climbing you then pitch for your airspeed...NOW power becomes speed....this explanation seems to work really well for students.

Is this wrong?
B

 

[bobbysamd]

Region of reversed command

I dont want to start a pitch versus power debate but for slow flight I teach my students that power is for altitude, pitch for airspeed. For example, if a student is maintaining altitude but is 5 knots low then you must add more power. If you look at the thrustline from the prop, the size of the vector increases; the vertical component of thrust is lift...to avoid climbing you then pitch for your airspeed...NOW power becomes speed....this explanation seems to work really well for students.

Is this wrong?
B

In the case of slow flight, not really. Pitching for speed works in that instance because you are probably at or near full power. You have to pitch over a little to maintain airspeed.

In slow flight you are in the region of reversed command. The chart is somewhere in the Flight Training Handbook and perhaps also in The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowlege.

 

[Timebuilder]

I was never taught to put in trim

That's surprising. You are preparing to operate in a new regime of power and attitude. Having set the pitch, you should be trimming for the new attitude.

While the pitch vs power argument is an old one, in reality it is a synergistic relationship. However, no matter the power setting, you can ALWAYS control the airspeed by using pitch. At a full power setting, I can pull back on the yoke enough to keep the airpeed just above a stall. With power at idle, I can pitch down for maximum speed. See?

The power setting is realy altitude control. You want to go up (take off)? You must put the power in. Want to land (go down) you must reduce power.

Slow fight is a combination of ingredients, as Bobby said, behind the power curve. You should trim for the new combination.

 

[U-I pilot]

I never used trim either to set up for this manuever cause it just made it that much more busy for my right hand jostling between that and power, however now that I am doing these again for my commercial in the piper arrow and we have electric trim this is no longer a problem