Flying Slow

by Philip Greenspun; revised April 2005

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Objective

This is a local flight from Bedford to the practice area and back. The student becomes proficient with slow flight and power-off stalls and improves his or her ability to fly a traffic pattern and set up for landing. Power-on stalls are explicitly excluded from this lesson to avoid interference.

The student learns that the aircraft can be flown and controlled at a wide range of airspeeds but that required rudder and yoke/stick pressures will change. During the discussions the student is reminded that while this little trainer aircraft with two people on board might recover from a stall by itself, a fully loaded 4- or 6-place airplane will not be as forgiving. Also the possibility of a properly flown plane becoming stalled due to wind shear is mentioned.

Elements

Content

Schedule

  1. 0-15 minutes: planning in the lounge
  2. 15-30: pre-flight and getting settled in the airplane
  3. 30-45: taxiing out and running up
  4. 45-90: the flight
  5. 90-105: park and secure airplane
  6. 105-120: evaluation and discussion
Total time: 2:00

Equipment

Instructor Actions

The instructor helps with landing flares as necessary.

Student Actions

The student does all radio communications and manipulation of the flight controls.

Completion Standards

Holding altitude during slow flight within 150 feet; heading within 20 degrees; airspeeds within 10 knots.

Evaluation





Reading Assignment

FAR Subchapter A "Definitions". FAR 61 Subpart C. FAR Part 91.
Text and photos (if any) Copyright 2005-2007 Philip Greenspun.
philg@mit.edu