AllExperts > Aviation/Flying 
Search      
Aviation/Flying
Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions
 Home · More Aviation/Flying Questions · Answer Library  · Encyclopedia ·
More Aviation/Flying Answers
Question Library

Ask a question about Aviation/Flying
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login

Awards

About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer

 
 
 
 
About Colin Woehrle
Expertise
Answer questions regarding FARs, VFR and IFR flight operations, the national airspace system (NAS), communications with ATC, physiology, etc. I answer sincere questions for aviation enthusiasts and flight students. If I can`t answer your question, I`ll try my best to point you in the right direction. (I do not answer questions asking how much it costs to fly from one place to another).

Experience
Pilot for a leading west-coast regional airline. Ratings and certificates include: Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII), Commercial Pilot, Instrument, Single Engine Land/Multi-engine Land Airplane
 
   

You are here:  Experts > Shopping > Air Travel > Aviation/Flying > Elevator Trim / Stabilized approach

Aviation/Flying - Elevator Trim / Stabilized approach


Expert: Colin Woehrle - 6/18/2008

Question
Colin;
Quick flight question for you...assume a Cessna 172.  Is it fair to say that once you trim the aircraft to a pitch attitude that will give you say, 70 kts...the airplane will respond to changes in power by raising or lowering the nose to maintain 70kts?
If so, is it a reasonable strategy for a stabilized landing approach to get the plane trimmed for a desired speed and then control descent rate with power - and let the nose of the plane move up or down to stay at the trimmed speed?
I've tried this in Flight Simulator X and that is how the aircraft responds...does it work like that in reality?
Thanks;

Answer
Hi Matt,

Partly true. If you trim the aircraft to a pitch that will maintain 70kts at a certain power setting, any change to power will change the pitch attitude. It will not necessarily maintain 70kts though. Let's say that it took 2000rpm to maintain 70kts on a standard day (temperature and atmospheric pressure) and you push in full power. The aircraft will pitch up, lose airspeed and eventually stall.

As far as the approach goes, it's good practice to get the aircraft trimmed out for your approach speed and then make minor adjustments to power for altitude changes and minor pitch adjustments for airspeed changes.

Hope this helps!

Colin

Add to this Answer    Ask a Question



  Rate this Answer
   Was this answer helpful?
Not at allDefinitely              
   12345  

     
About Us | Advertise on This Site | User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright  © 2008 About, Inc. About and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. The About logo is a trademark of About, Inc. All rights reserved.