K37 — Stage 3full lesson · 6 sections
No-Power Approach
A glide approach means landing with the engine at idle — you manage energy with pitch and flaps only.
1-min review
What You'll Do Today
Today you fly an approach with the engine pulled all the way back to idle, like a glider with no power. You can't add power to fix things, so you plan ahead and use pitch and flaps to land right where you want.
- Start on the downwind leg even with the runway numbers, at pattern altitude
- Pull the throttle to idle and pitch for best glide speed (65 knots)
- Use flaps to steepen or stretch your glide toward the runway
- Turn base and final and glide all the way to the numbers
By the end you'll see how good pilots fly a whole approach without touching the throttle.
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.