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FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL     79

other as slowly as possible until he is able to accomplish this with perfect coordination and no perceptible movement of the controls.
Perfection of the coordination to this degree will not only result in the acquisition of a fine sense of control touch and feel of the aircraft, but will give an understanding of principles involved that will allow the later "combination maneuvers," such as chandelles, lazy eights, tight spirals, and slow rolls to be perfected with a minimum of instruction and practice.

STALLS WITHOUT POWER

Effective control of an aircraft of proper design and stability depends on speed being maintained above a certain minimum. The closer the speed approaches this minimum, the less the effectiveness of the controls, and the more the speed increases above this minimum, the more effective they become.
One of the most important features of pilot training is the learning of the rapidity with which this control effectiveness diminishes with loss of speed. 
It is particularly important that this be known when operating at speeds progressively less than normal cruising. It will be found that as the speed is reduced, control effectiveness is reduced at least in proportion, and in most cases progressively. For example, if there is a certain loss of control effectiveness in an airplane when the operating speed is reduced from 30 miles per hour above stalling speed to 20 miles per hour above stalling speed, there usually will be a much greater proportionate loss when it is further reduced from 20 to 10 miles per hour above stalling speed.
The knowledge of the characteristics of any particular airplane in this respect is of the utmost importance to the pilot. The student should be taught to develop an awareness of the approach, and particularly the rapidity of the approach, of relative ineffectiveness of the controls, or a stall. There is a critical speed at which any further reduction brings loss of control. This speed is the factor that governs the degree of safety with which the airplane can be operated at low speeds. The operation of an aircraft at speeds near the stalling speed is, in itself, not hazardous. However, it is very dangerous unless the pilot is aware of it and is alert, competent, and able to give his full attention to flying the airplane. The pilot who is unable to sense how close his speed is to this critical speed and foresee the result of any maneuver which would cause even a slight further loss of speed will sooner or later be involved in serious difficulties.
It is, therefore, evident that the practice of stalls and the development of this sense are of primary importance to the pilot's safety.
Ordinarily, vision is the most important sense used by a pilot while flying. However, it is of little use in sensing the approach of a stall, particularly when this happens at more or less normal flight attitudes. Therefore, other senses must be developed to a high degree to warn of the approach of a stall and permit the vision to be used for purposes other than constantly checking the attitude of the ship. This is particularly important during glides and steep turns. These senses should be developed to the point where the reaction to their stimuli is automatic and subconscious, as well as accurate.