Coming Down
Big Idea
To descend, reduce power and let the nose come down. Gravity is your friend.
Fun Fact
A Cessna 172 can glide about 1.5 miles for every 1,000 feet of altitude — even with the engine off!
What You Will Learn
- Reduce power to start descending
- Control the descent rate with pitch
- Maintain a target airspeed during descent
- Level off at a target altitude
Simulator Steps
- From 4,000 feet, reduce power to about 1,800 RPM
- The nose will drop slightly — let it settle
- Watch the VSI — you should be descending at about 500 feet per minute
- Keep the airspeed at about 90 knots
- Level off at 2,000 feet — add power, raise the nose, trim
What You Learned
- Reduce power to descend
- Control descent rate with pitch
- Level off = add power + raise nose + trim