12.64 Descending Flight

12.64.2 Identify and name the forces acting in a glide.

In a glide, there are two main forces acting on the aircraft: 1. Weight: This is the force of gravity acting on the aircraft, which pulls it towards the ground. 2. Lift: This is the force generated by the wings of the aircraft, which opposes the force of gravity and allows the aircraft to stay in the air. In addition to these two main forces, there are also two other forces that can affect the glide of an aircraft: 3. Drag: This is the force that opposes the motion of the aircraft through the air. In a glide, the amount of drag will affect the distance that the aircraft can travel. 4. Thrust: This is the force that propels the aircraft forward. In a glide, there is no engine thrust, so the aircraft relies on its existing forward speed to maintain its glide. In summary, the forces acting on an aircraft in a glide are weight, lift, drag, and thrust.

12.64.4 Explain how the forces in a glide become modified in a constant speed power on descent.

In a constant speed power on descent, the forces acting on the aircraft are modified compared to a glide. The following describes how each force is affected: 1. Weight: The force of gravity acting on the aircraft remains the same, regardless of whether the aircraft is in a glide or a constant speed power on descent. 2. Lift: In a constant speed power on descent, the lift generated by the wings is reduced compared to a glide. This is because the aircraft is descending at a higher rate, which reduces the amount of lift generated by the wings. The pilot can adjust the pitch attitude of the aircraft to maintain a specific airspeed and descent rate. 3. Drag: The amount of drag in a constant speed power on descent is higher than in a glide. This is because the pilot is using engine power to maintain a constant airspeed, which generates additional drag. The pilot can adjust the power setting to control the descent rate. 4. Thrust: In a constant speed power on descent, the aircraft is using engine power to maintain a constant airspeed. This means that there is a forward thrust acting on the aircraft, which is not present in a glide. In summary, the forces acting on an aircraft in a constant speed power on descent are weight, reduced lift, increased drag, and forward thrust.