Insights

Fly The Wing

When you fly an airplane, what are your priorities? I hope you say, "I aviate, navigate, and communicate." And how do you aviate? I hope you say, "I start with the wing and the throttle, not the instruments." If your answers agree with mine, then you know the basic axiom of flight - attitude plus power equals performance.

The next time you fly, pay attention to the wing; imagine the position of the chord line that connects the leading and trailing edges. There is nothing scientific about this reference, but I realized years ago that a certain commonality exists between all wings and aircraft performance. After all, the wing is the tool that makes flight possible, and generally speaking all wings work in the same manner.

You can make the same observations that I did. Start with cruise flight at 75-percent power. Notice that the imaginary chord line is parallel with the earth's horizon. I call this the C-pitch attitude.

Next, enter a best-rate climb at maximum continuous power-full power in most training airplanes-and note the relationship between the chord line and the horizon. I call this the I-pitch attitude.

Now lower the nose so that the angle between the chord line and the horizon is halfway between the C- and I-pitch attitudes. This is the T-pitch attitude. When the elevator becomes effective during the takeoff roll, you should establish the T-pitch attitude and let the airplane fly itself off the runway when the wing is ready to fly. If you maintain this attitude after liftoff - the nose wants to pitch up as you lift off, increase speed, and climb out of ground effect - the airplane will quickly accelerate to the best-rate climb speed.

Note the increment of pitch change that occurs when you raise the nose from the C- pitch attitude to the T-pitch attitude, and again from the T-pitch attitude to the I-pitch attitude. Raise the nose one additional increment. This is the P-pitch attitude. It produces a best-angle climb when maximum continuous power is applied.

Finally, return to the C-pitch attitude and lower the nose one increment. This is the H-pitch attitude. It produces a cruise descent when cruise power is applied.

P-I-T-C-H. Very interesting. Five letters that represent the five pitch attitudes used for normal maneuvering. When coupled with an appropriate power setting, these attitudes produce specific performance objectives:

• The P-pitch attitude with maximum continuous power produces a best-angle climb.
• The I-pitch attitude with maximum continuous power produces a best-rate climb.
• The T-pitch attitude with takeoff power produces liftoff when the wing is ready to fly. With climb power, it produces a cruise climb - a climb rate that should not exceed 500 feet per minute (fpm) in an unpressurized airplane, increases forward speed and engine cooling, and improves over-the-nose visibility. With reduced cruise power it produces slow cruise flight-used when flying level in a traffic pattern or the practice area between maneuvers. With idle power, it produces a minimum-sink descent.
• The C-pitch attitude with 75-percent power produces normal cruise. With power slightly above idle and full flap extension, it produces the proper airspeed for a landing approach. And with idle power, it produces the best-glide speed.
• The H-pitch attitude with cruise power produces a cruise descent-a descent of no more than 500 fpm to maximize forward speed. With idle power and full flap extension, it produces the proper airspeed for the power-off landing approach (forced landing).

Do these pitch attitudes result in the exact airspeed? Not always, but they are an excellent starting point that keeps you safe and keeps your head outside the cockpit. After you set the initial pitch attitude and power, adjust the pitch attitude slightly to obtain the desired airspeed.

B-A-N-K is another interesting combination of letters because there are four bank attitudes for normal flight: the B-bank attitude for wings level, the A-bank attitude for a shallow bank, the N-bank attitude for a medium bank, and the K-bank attitude for a steep bank.

It's quite easy to become an integral part of the airplane you are flying. Select and monitor the proper attitudes and power settings, feel the control pressures, and listen to the engine. This is a basic prerequisite for mastering the art of flying.