Flying Slow
Big Idea
The slower you fly, the mushier the controls feel. Below a certain speed, the airplane cannot fly anymore.
Fun Fact
Slow flight is how the airplane feels right before landing — that is why we practice it at altitude first!
What You Will Learn
- Reduce power to slow down
- Add flaps to maintain lift at lower speeds
- Feel how the controls get mushy at slow speeds
- Maintain altitude at minimum controllable airspeed
Simulator Steps
- From cruise, reduce power slowly
- As the speed drops, add flaps (10, then 20)
- Keep pulling back to maintain altitude as speed decreases
- Feel the yoke — it takes bigger movements to get the same response
- Try to hold altitude at about 55 knots
What You Learned
- Slower speed = mushier controls
- You need more power to maintain altitude at slow speeds
- This is how the airplane feels before landing