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What might cause a high sink rate if you make a rapid power reduction during a slow final approach?
During an excessively slow approach, the wing is operating near the critical angle of attack and, depending on the pitch attitude changes and control usage, the airplane may stall or sink rapidly.
How does pitch control airspeed?
When you reduce pitch, the airspeed will increase, but your altitude will probably decrease as well (or at least, the rate of climb will go down).
Do you pitch for airspeed or power for glideslope?
Pilots have debated for years whether it’s better to pitch for airspeed and power for glideslope, or the other way around. One of the most respected flying books ever written, Wolfgang Langewiesche’s Stick and Rudder, lays out one of the most popular – and proven – ways to manage your aircraft: “pitch to speed, power to altitude.”
Why does a pitch change slow an airplane down?
This final pitch change also reduces the sink rate to almost nil as the airplane nears the runway, guaranteeing a soft arrival. Note that even during the ground roll, the elevator control is still held full back, harnessing drag induced by the high angle of attack to slow the airplane as quickly as possible.
When was pitch to speed, power to altitude written?
One of the most respected flying books ever written, Wolfgang Langewiesche’s Stick and Rudder, lays out one of the most popular – and proven – ways to manage your aircraft: “pitch to speed, power to altitude.” The book was written in 1944, and it holds true today.
What happens to your airspeed when you reduce power?
If you reduce power, trim will pitch the nose down and use gravity to make up for some of that lost thrust. And your airspeed will remain nearly constant if you let the nose move on its own. In fact – aircraft climb and descend because of excess power, not pitch attitude.