Straight and Level Flight
| Objective: |
To teach the student to detect small deviations from straight-and-level flight as soon as they occur, necessitating only small corrections. |
| Content: |
Before Flight:
- Review general aircraft operation and speeds
- Review aerodynamics for straight and level flight
- Straight and level flight is a matter of consciously correcting the relationship between the position of some portion of the airplane, used as a reference point, with the horizon (AFH 3-4)
- Level flight accomplished by checking a reference point (usually point on nose) with natural horizon
- Straight flight accomplished by checking airplanes wingtips with the horizon
During Flight:
- Instructor emphasizes a light grip on controls and small corrections
- Students should focus outside, but crosscheck situation with instruments occasionally
- Check, correct, recheck
- Instructor should ensure the student adjusts reference point on attitude indicator for level attitude when airspeed changes
- Instructor ensures student is using wingtips and horizon as reference points for straight flight and point on nose and horizon as reference points for level flight
See AFH C. 3-4 to 3-7 |
| Completion Standards: |
The lesson is complete when the student can detect and correct for deviations in straight-and-level flight with small corrections. |
Posted in CFI Lesson Plans |
