Going Up!

Power, Lift Off, and Climb

To go up, you add power and point the nose up a little. The airplane trades some of its speed for height. Here are the ideas you'll use.

Full Power

For takeoff you push the throttle all the way in. More power means more thrust, which gets you flying.

Rotate

This is the gentle pull back on the yoke that lifts the nose and gets the wheels off the ground. You do it once the airplane has enough speed.

Altimeter

The instrument that shows how high you are, in feet. You'll watch it climb toward your target of 4,000 feet.

A Cessna 172 climbs at about 700 feet per minute — it takes about 6 minutes to reach cruising altitude! Smooth, gentle inputs make the best takeoffs.

Instructor Setup

Position the Cessna 172 G1000 at the runway hold short, calm winds, ready to taxi onto the runway. Plan about 20 minutes. This is the student's first takeoff, so keep the runway environment quiet and the demo clear.

Session Flow

1. Line up (3 min). Taxi onto the runway and align with the centerline; feet on the pedals to track straight.
2. Demonstrate a takeoff (5 min). Show full power, the speed building, and a gentle rotation, narrating each step.
3. Student takeoff (6 min). Hand over and coach the student through full power and a gentle pull back to lift off.
4. Climb to altitude (4 min). Coach holding the climb attitude up toward 4,000 feet, watching the altimeter.
5. Wrap (2 min). Recap takeoff and climb and preview "How High Can We Go?"

Reset and repeat the takeoff if time allows. The goal is a straight, gentle takeoff and a steady climb.

Debrief

Confirm the student understands the takeoff and climb sequence before moving on.

• Lined up and tracked the centerline with the pedals
• Applied full power for takeoff
• Rotated gently to lift off rather than yanking the yoke
• Held a steady climb and watched the altimeter toward 4,000 feet

Next Lesson

Next up is "How High Can We Go?" (K08): reading the altimeter and holding the best climb speed. If the takeoff felt rushed today, run one more takeoff at the start of K08 before focusing on the climb speed.

Skills You'll Work On

These are the maneuvers and procedures covered in this lesson. Your instructor tracks each one as you progress.

• Normal Takeoff and Climbs
• Entry, Maintaining, Leveling Off from A Climb
• Use of Checklists

Grades reflect what was covered in this lesson, not a certification of pilot competency.

Lesson Plan

Where this fits: First of three sessions drawn from PPL Lesson 3, "Climbing." This session covers the takeoff and the entry into a climb; K08 covers climb speed and the altimeter, and K09 covers leveling off.

Prerequisite

K05/K06 — Taxiing (can taxi to the runway and line up).

Materials

C172 G1000 simulator at the runway, takeoff checklist card, headset.

Goal for this session

Student can perform a guided takeoff with full power and a gentle rotation, then hold a climb toward 4,000 feet.

Looking Ahead

• K08 — How High Can We Go?: reading the altimeter and climbing at the best speed.
• K09 — Level Off: smoothly changing from a climb to level flight.