Straight and Level Flight
Learn to maintain straight and level flight at a constant altitude, heading, and airspeed, in balance, at various power settings and configurations. This is the fundamental cruise condition from which all other maneuvers begin and end.
What You Have Learned
In this lesson, you developed the ability to fly accurately in straight and level flight at various airspeeds and configurations. Specifically, you can now:
- Maintain a constant altitude, heading, and airspeed using the Power — Attitude — Trim sequence.
- Transition smoothly between different cruise airspeeds (normal cruise, slow safe cruise, increased speed) while maintaining altitude.
- Keep the airplane in balance using coordinated rudder inputs.
- Explain how the four forces interact in equilibrium during unaccelerated flight.
Stability and Design
You now understand the design features that make the airplane inherently stable:
- Longitudinal stability (pitch): CG ahead of center of pressure, balanced by the tailplane.
- Lateral stability (roll): Wing dihedral creates a restoring force when a wing drops.
- Directional stability (yaw): The vertical fin weathercocks the airplane into the relative wind.
You also understand why CG limits must never be exceeded and how CG position affects handling characteristics.
Lookout and Situational Awareness
This lesson introduced the foundations of effective lookout scanning:
- Systematic scan techniques (block and wandering methods).
- Focusing on the correct area of sky (10 degrees above/below horizon, 60 degrees each side).
- Understanding the constant-bearing collision threat.
- Developing local area awareness — knowing where you are in relation to the airport and training area landmarks.
Collision Avoidance
You know the basic right-of-way rules for VFR flight:
- Head-on: both alter right.
- Converging: give way to the aircraft on your right.
- Overtaking: pass to the right.
- Right-of-way priority order (balloons, gliders, airships, towing, powered).
Looking Ahead
With straight and level flight mastered, you are ready to learn turning — combining bank angle with coordinated rudder to change direction while maintaining altitude. The Power-Attitude-Trim technique and lookout habits you developed in this lesson will carry directly into your turning practice.
Before Your Next Lesson
Use the AATD with G1000 NXi to consolidate your straight and level skills. Practice transitioning between different airspeeds, paying attention to the power settings and nose attitudes required for each. The more automatic these become, the more capacity you will have available for learning turns.
These lesson plans are provided as supplementary training guidance only. They do not supersede FAA publications, aircraft manufacturer documentation, or your instructor's direction. Always refer to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, Airplane Flying Handbook, AIM, and applicable POH/AFM as the official sources.