Newsgroups: rec.aviation.student
Subject: Re: Slow flight
From: jbolinger@lintek.com (J L Bolinger)
Organization: AeroFlex Lintek
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In article <70o5q6$bb$1@usenet44.supernews.com>, mmoore2@san.rr.com says...

>I had problems with slow flight too until I had a small revalation.  My
>instructor said several times when we were in the pattern that when you get
>slow you enter the area of "reverse control" where power controls altitude
>and pitch controls airspeed.  Normally, when you're hauling butt it's the
>opposite: pitch controls altitude and power controls airspeed (call it the
>area of "normal control").


I've never heard of this (except perhaps in regards to supersonic flight).  
According to 'Stick and Rudder' and other texts that I have read, the throttle 
always controls altitude and stick always controls airspeed.  If you cut
 the engine you maintain altitude for a short while by changing your 
pitch but, as you  probably know by now, that will work for only a short 
time---eventually you will loose altitude real fast (stall).  The only way
 to maintain altitude indefinetly is to keep that engine running (see below).


>Before slow flight you're in the area of normal control and, as you slow
>down and drop your flaps, you transition to the area of reverse control.
>The problem I had (and you're having) is making that transition smoothly
>while slowing down and not losing altitude.
>

I don't recall this happening either.  

***This means that there is a point at which you have __no__ control?***

Anyway, when in slow flight there is a certain engine speed that will
maintain altitude.  It is different for different configurations and
for different planes, but in the c172 it is about 2100 RPM.  Figure out
what it is for your plane and set your engine to that as a good
starting point.  If you are above that point, you will gain altitude
if you are below that point you will loose altitude, when keeping the
same airspeed.  

