Skip to main content

Fundamental Maneuvers

Straight-and-Level Flight​

Straight and level panel

Objectives​

Maintain a constant altitude, constant direction, and balanced attitude in straight flight

Operation​

  • Leveling the airplane from a turn/climb
    • Attitude, power, trim
  • Visual reference to the cowling, 3-4" from horizon
  • Altimeter = altitude, heading indicator = direction, inclinometer = coordination
  • Level attitude will change with loading and airspeed
  • Trim
    • Use to relieve pressure, not control the airplane
  • Leveling off: 500 ft/min climb, level off around 50' below target altitude

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 3-6

Common Errors​

  • Failure to clear the area
  • Failure to anticipate the level-off
  • Failure to coordinate the flight controls
  • Failure to use visual cues to maintain S&L flight
  • Failure to scan for traffic

Normal Climbs​

Objectives​

Climb at a constant airspeed and direction while keeping the airplane coordination

Operation​

  • Power, attitude, trim
  • Airspeed indicator = constant airspeed, heading indicator = direction, inclinometer = coordination
  • Anticipate and correct for left-turning tendencies

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 3-17

Common Errors​

  • Failure to clear the area
  • Failure to anticipate the level-off
  • Failure to coordinate the flight controls
  • Failure to scan for traffic
  • Fixation on one instrument
  • Applying elevator pressure too quickly
  • Pitching too steeply resulting in dissipating airspeed

Descents​

Objectives​

Maintain a descent at a constant airspeed or constant rate, constant direction, coordinated flight

Operation​

  • Power, attitude, trim
  • Pulling power abruptly can cause a yaw moment to the right (negative p-factor)
  • Descending to a point on the ground:
    • When your target point is halfway between the horizon and straight down
    • Keep your target in the windscreen with pitch, manage airspeed with throttle

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 3-20

Common Errors​

  • Failure to clear the area
  • Inadequate back-pressure resulting in a dive
  • Slipping or skidding due to inadequate rudder control
  • Chasing the airspeed or descent rate
  • Fixation on flight instruments or a single flight instrument

Level Turns​

Objectives​

  • Maintain a bank angle between 20-45° with a constant altitude, while maintaining balance

Operation​

Parallax in a turn

  • Elevator controls altitude, ailerons controls bank, throttle controls airspeed, rudder controls coordination
  • Elevator to maintain altitude
  • Aileron controls bank
  • Pilot's are seated on the left, so a left turn will look like a dive. A right turn will look like a climb

Adverse yaw

  • Adverse yaw
    • Upward wing produces more induced drag, causing yaw in the opposite direction
    • The drag occurs as long as the ailerons are being deflected, and is proportional to the amount of aileron deflected
    • Once established in a turn the ailerons are neutral, so no adverse yaw
    • We still need to contend with left-turning tendencies
    • Use enough rudder to keep flight coordinated
  • Look at which point the horizon "cuts through" the cowling
  • Anticipate the roll-out of the turn by 1/2 of the bank angle (10° of heading for a 20° bank turn)

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge pg. 5-30

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 3-11

Common Errors​

  • Failure to clear the area
  • Failure to use outside visual references
  • Leaning in the seat, instead of remaining upright
  • Insufficient feel for slip/skip without the use of the ball
  • Holding more rudder than needed in the turn
  • Uneven proficiency in turn direction
  • Altitude gain/loss during the turn