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69

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL

 In addition to the above possibilities resulting from inability to recognize a normal glide, a student, or pilot with this deficiency will have no idea of where his aircraft will go, or can be made to go, in an emergency, and this has caused many accidents. 
 The competent pilot will be able to get the utmost in performance out of the aircraft in a glide as in any other maneuver. This can only come with experience and practice of the true normal glide. Without this ability the pilot is subject to unpredictable hazards, particularly when flying modern aircraft of clean lines and high performance.

            GLIDING TURNS

  Gliding turns are particularly important in a student's training. Since they are directly related to accuracy landings, as will be seen in later discussions, they are almost always used for some practical purpose. Therefore, it is necessary that they be done more subconsciously than other maneuvers since most of the time during their execution the pilot will be giving his attention to details other than the mechanics of making the turn.
  Since they are used close to the ground more than any other maneuver, the accuracy of their execution and the formation of proper technique and habits is of especial importance. 
  It is then evident that the perfection of these maneuvers is of the utmost importance to the student and since the action of the control system is somewhat different in a glide than with power, gliding maneuvers stand in a class by themselves and require the perfection of a special technique beyond that required for ordinary power maneuvers.
  This control difference is caused in the main by two factors: 
1. The absence of the usual slip stream.
2. The difference of relative effectiveness of the various control surfaces at various speeds and particularly at reduced speed. (This will be noted more particularly during the practice of stalls.)
  This last factor has its effect exaggerated by the first, and makes the task of coordination even more difficult to the inexperienced student.
  These principles should be thoroughly explained to the student in order that he may be alert to grasp the difference in coordination necessary. After he has developed the "feel" of the airplane and the "control touch," this compensation will be automatic; but while any mechanical tendency exists in his coordination, he will have difficulty in executing gliding turns, particularly when making a practical application of them in attempting accuracy landings.
  Three elements in gliding turns which tend to force the nose down and increase gliding speed are:
  1. Decrease in lift due to the direction of the lifting force being at an angle to the pull of gravity.
  2. The use of the rubber the same as in a power turn.
  3. The normal stability and inherent characteristic of all well-designed airplanes to nose down with the power off.
  These three factors make more back pressure on the elevators necessary than is necessary for a straight glide or a power turn and, there-fore, affect even more the normal relationship of control coordination.