06 Climbing & Descending

This lesson builds on the coordination skills developed in the previous straight-and-level exercise. Confirm with the student what the key elements of that lesson were. Have they remembered the attitudes you looked at previously, and do they remember that all controls should be moved in a coordinated manner?

In this air exercise, numerous changes in power will be made, and it is important that the student reviews and practises coordinating adjustments in pitch and yaw with each power change.

Generally, there are four types of climb: best angle, best rate, cruise, and recommended (for visibility and engine cooling).  Descent is generally conducted in one of three ways: glide, powered, or cruise.

Focus on teaching the best rate climb and the glide, with demonstrations of the other climb and descent types as time permits.

Having covered straight and level flight in the last lesson, we now need to learn how to climb and descend to and from straight and level, in preparation for the upcoming circuit lessons.

Objectives  

• To enter the climb and the descent from straight and level flight.
• To maintain a climb and a descent at a constant speed, in a constant direction, and in balance.
• To level off at specific altitudes.