Aerodynamic Aviation

Private Pilot Maneuvers Summary

Cessna 172M
Version 1.0

Minimum standards are always airspeed +-10mph, altitude +-100; headings +-10 degrees
unless otherwise specified. We want to always do much better than that! Target no worse than
half of that before the checkride.
1/ Straight and level flight, level turns
- normal cruise approx 2400rpm at sea level, 2500rpm at 5000
- slow cruise (traffic pattern, ground ref maneuvers), 2200rpm, about 90kts/100mph
2/ Climbs and descents, climbing and descending turns
- normal climb: full throttle, carb heat cold, 10 degs nose up, 70-75kts/80-85mph
- cruise climb: full throttle, carb heat cold, 5 degs nose up, 80-90kts/90-100mph
- Lean mixture in climb above 3000 in summer above 4000 in winter
- Level off from climb when reach desired altitude lower nose, accelerate to cruise
speed and only then set power to the cruise rpm. Lean mixture as appropriate
- descent rule of thumb: reduce power 500rpm, lower nose to maintain same speed
- Level off from descent 100 to 50 above target altitude, add back the power you took
away, smoothly bring nose back to level attitude
3/ Steep turns
- Start at or a little below Va, 95kts/110mph or so, around 2400rpm
- Clearing turns!
- Eyes front! Roll coordinated and promptly to 45-50 degrees of bank
- As you pass through 30 degrees of bank add throttle and back pressure to prevent nose
slicing down look out of the windshield
- Maintain steep bank, prevent bank increasing or decreasing, keep back pressure to keep
nose from dropping, pay attention to view out front and out of side window
- If despite back pressure, nose tries to drop and altitude starts decreasing, reduce bank
angle, bring nose back up above the horizon, then increase bank again
- If nose rises too much, check and if necessary increase bank angle. If bank angle ok,
relax some of the back pressure not all of it.
- Start rollout about 20 degrees before target heading, keep bank angle till then,
coordinate with rudder
4/ Slow flight (minimum controllable airspeed target is bottom of green arc +-5mph)
- Carb heat hot, throttle to 1500rpm, keep nose from dropping
- As airspeed decreases to Vfe, lower flaps in stages, but promptly
- Prevent zoom up by forward pressure dont trim yet
- As airspeed drops to 60kts/70mph flaps should be full and now right hand is on throttle
- Add throttle -1800-2000 rpm; Pitch carefully to control airspeed around 55kts

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Immediately add substantial throttle if altitude starts decreasing, then adjust once
problem is solved
Trim to maintain nose attitude without elevator force
Turns max 20 degrees of bank, better 10-15.
If climbing, reduce throttle to below that needed for level flight, then reset
Note mushy controls, significant overbanking tendency and a lot of adverse yaw

5/ Power off stalls

- Establish stabilized power off (idle) glide in landing configuration, flaps full, by:
- Starting from level flight clean
- Carb heat hot, power to 1500rpm (as for slow flight) keep nose from dropping so to
slow down
- Flaps down when below Vfe
- When speed drops to 65kts/75mph, reduce power to idle and lower nose and descend to
maintain 60-65kts/70-75mph. Nose will be quite low to do this with full flaps
- When stabilized, raise nose to normal climb attitude and hold the attitude (the yoke will
need to be moved backwards continually as speed and control effectiveness reduce)
- Keep right hand on throttle, keep ailerons level, keep nose straight with rudder
- Note stall warning horn, then the buffet, then the nose drop despite holding elevator
back
- As soon as the nose drops, follow it with the yoke but just to previous descent attitude,
theres no need to dive.
- If wing drops DO NOT USE AILERON, instead step on the rudder on the high wing
side till drop stops, then neutral rudder.
- At the same time add full power, carb heat cold and raise the flaps to 20 degrees, there
will be lots of left yaw tendency and the need for a lot of right rudder, maybe forward
elevator too depending on trim
- As soon as speed starts to increase raise the nose to normal climb attitude (10 degs up)
- When altimeter starts to increase, raise flaps to 10 degs, then 5 degs, then full up.
- Do not exceed 65kts/75mph while nose is down, or 75kts/85mph once climbing
- Minimum standard is to keep heading within 10 degrees and avoid wing drop of more
than 20 degrees
6/ Power on stalls
- Starting from level flight, clean
- Slow down to approx takeoff speed (below 70kts/80mph) by carb heat on, power
1500rpm OR by simply raising nose to climb attitude and adding climb power
- Hold nose from dropping or zooming up
- As speed drops below 70kts/80mph, add full power, carb heat cold
- When stabilized in a normal climb raise nose about 20 degrees (twice as much as
normal)
- Hold the nose high attitude wings level, nose straight with rudder, more and more
elevator and more and more rudder as plane slows
- Note the stall warning, then the buffet, then the nose drop
- Immediately lower nose to just below horizon no lower than normal descent attitude
- If wing drops DO NOT USE AILERON, instead step on the rudder on the high wing
side till drop stops then neutral rudder.

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As soon as airspeed starts increasing, bring nose to either cruise attitude or climb
attitude (as specified by examiner)

7/ Ground reference maneuvers

All maneuvers performed at 1000 AGL, 2200rpm approx 90kts/100mph
First turn is to the left (for pilot seat on left)
A/ Rectangular Course
- Select large rectangular field (or several fields together)
- Enter on left 45 to downwind
- Stay a third to half mile off to the side (a third to half way up the strut)
- When wing is abeam corner turn left this is downwind to base, so steepest
turn and nose should ends crabbing into wind towards the field
- Next turn is base to upwind (or final), so shallower
- Next turn is upwind to crosswind, so shallowest (and nose should end
crabbing into wind- away from field)
- Next turn is back towards downwind so medium bank.
- During all turns and straight legs maintain same distance from field boundary,
adjust ground track as necessary
B/ Circle Round a point
- Select a clear landmark intersections are good
- Enter on downwind so to make first turn to left
- Same distance from center of intersection as above 1/3rd to half mile
- When abeam the intersection turn promptly this is the steepest bank
- Maintain distance from intersection so as to fly a circle bank angle will need
to be shallowed as we turn into the wind and then when we turn away from
the wind the bank will need to be steepened
- Increase back pressure when bank is steeper, reduce with shallower bank
maintain altitude
C/ S turns across road
- Select a road or other straight line at right angle to wind direction
- Enter on downwind right angle to road, plan to make first turn to left
- When directly over the road, promptly start a steepish turn to the left
- Adjust bank so to make the ground track a half circle
- Aim to arrive back at the road with nose at right angles to the road
- As arrive back at the road, roll wings level and look left and right, wings
should be parallel to the road
- Road is crossed in momentary level flight the roll should be stopped
- As we cross the road start a gentle bank to the right, making sure we go
upwind far enough to make another half circle
- As we turn away from the wind, and towards the road, the bank will need to
increase and the backpressure too
- Just before getting to the road again, the plane should be pointing at right
angles to the road
- Roll promptly level, look left and right as you cross road
- Roll promptly steeply in the other direction to continue the S turns

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8/ Takeoffs and Landings in the pattern

A/ Normal takeoff and landing
- Flaps up (look at them), carb heat cold, mixture rich, trim for takeoff
- Roll onto runway centerline
- Elevator slightly back from neutral
- Full throttle, check rpm 2250-2350, check oil pressure
- Keep eyes on far end of runway
- At 55kts/65mph lift nose but only to just hide end of runway
- As plane lifts, keep wings level with ailerons and nose straight with right
rudder, probably need to relax the elevator as speed increases
- Adjust pitch to approx 10degs up, should see 70-75kts/80-85mph, no less, no
more
- Make crosswind turn when at least 500 AGL (600 at RHV)
- remember to make wind correction and crab into wind
- When reach 1000AGL, lower nose first and then reduce power to 2200rpm
- Pre landing check GUMPS Gas on both (or fullest tank), Undercarriage down,
Mixture rich, Prop/pump controls we dont have, Switches/safety (lights, belts)
- Maintain about half a mile from runway
- Opposite touchdown point, carb heat on, power to idle
- Keep nose from dropping as speed reduces below Vfe lower flaps 20 degs
- Prevent baloon as flaps take effect by forward pressure on elevator
- Descend at approx 75kts/85mph
- When no more than 45 degs past the runway (less if theres wind), turn base
this is a prompt turn, get on with it, 30 degs bank and keep turning till the nose
points somewhat towards the runway to compensate for wind.
- Speed should be approx 70kts/80mph now, add power if we look low, reduce if
we look high, can also add another 10 degs flaps or slip if we are high
- Roll out on final so as to align with extended centerline, crab into wind if we
drift sideways
- Where will the airplane touch down if we do nothing? Where would we like that
to be? Power for altitude, pitch for airspeed.
- If we still look high, flaps full, otherwise leave at 30 degrees
- speed 65Kts/75mph
- Adjust pitch carefully to maintain speed, power is used to adjust rate of descent
nose should be quite low
- Should cross threshold no more than about 50 up
- Power smoothly to idle, adjust pitch down to keep flying speed
- When runway starts flattening in perspective and grass starts rising up to your
ears in your peripheral vision level off just enough to stop descent
- As airspeed reduces and plane wants to land, keep nose slowly coming up,
about as fast as the plane wants to descend
- Keep straight with rudder adjust any drift with aileron at all times
- Once the nose is hiding the far end of runway, it is high enough, hold the nose
up attitude steady, with ever more back elevator (just like in a stall) and the
plane should land on main gear

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A/1)

If there is a crosswind, you will be holding rudder opposite the wind and aileron
into the wind, and it may land on one wheel before the other. This is a good
thing and indeed required to prevent sideways drift.
When plane lands, gently but deliberately lower the other main wheel first then
nose to the ground, dont just let go!
As plane slows down keep bringing the elevator back
Aileron full into any crosswind
Keep straight, brake if needed, slow down to taxi speed before turning
Dont adjust anything in cockpit till off the runway and stopped

Power on approach and landing

- as above but power stays in as needed to extend and follow someone and not
descent below normal descent path (use VASI if available)
- turn base later
- when able, revert to normal power off approach and landing

B/ Short Field Takeoff and Landing

- Check POH for takeoff some use 10 degs of flaps, some no flaps
- Carb heat cold, mixture rich, trim for takeoff
- Roll onto runway, align with centerline, as close to the start of the runway as
possible
- Brakes on, smoothly add full power, check for oil pressure and correct rpm
- Release brakes and roll with elevator neutral, keep straight with rudder
- At 50kts/60mph, smoothly but firmly raise pitch to about 12 degs nose up and
maintain that attitude
- Target airspeed is Vx - 54kts/65mph with flaps, 59kts/70mph without
- As airplane climbs above (real or simulated) obstacle lower nose to 10 degrees
- As airspeed starts to increase, raise the flaps in two stages if applicable,
maintain 10 degrees pitch up and the airplane should accelerate to Vy
- Fly pattern as normal
- For short field landing: when abeam the numbers, first count to 5 slow potatoes,
then
- Carb heat on, 1500 rpm, keep straight with rudder, stop nose from dropping
- Add 20 degrees of flaps, slow to about 70kts/80mph
- When 45 degs from touchdown point, turn base, add 30degs flaps, 65kts/75mph
- Turn onto centerline, if not too low, full flaps, otherwise wait till above VASI
- Slow to 55kts/65mph, full flaps if not already, adjust trim and power as
necessary to continue descending
- Aiming point is about two airplane lengths before actual touchdown point e.g.
Aiming point 1st stripe
Touchdown point 2nd stripe
- Pay exquisite attention to attitude (which governs airspeed) do not let nose
come up and hide aiming point at any time
- If descending too much, add power; if not descending enough, reduce power
- As approach runway, keep some power in
- Just before touchdown, lower than usual, power to idle and a prompt but not
large flare
- Plane should touch on main gear with little or no float.

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Elevator gently to neutral, then brake as you pull back to put weight on mains

C/ Soft Field Takeoff and Landing

- Check POH for flap setting, if no mention then deflect aileron and lower flaps
to same angle
- Carb heat cold, mixture rich, trim for takeoff
- Elevator full back as you taxi onto (real or simulated) soft surfaced runway
- No braking or stopping
- As become aligned with centerline smoothly add full power
- Check rpm and oil pressure
- As nose starts lifting adjust elevator to achieve Vx attitude
- Plane will lift very early gently but deliberately adjust pitch attitude to stay
close to ground and not climb
- When reach Vx, nose to Vy pitch attitude and allow plane to climb
- Confirm positive and stable rate of climb flaps up in stages hold pitch
attitude steady for Vy
- For soft field landing make approach as for normal landing (above)
- Make sure that power is reduced to idle before flare
- As you flare the airplane to landing attitude add enough power to make a soft
nose up landing and nose stays up listen to engine, dont take eyes off
runway
- Will need to look out of the side past the nose.
- Too little power and the plane lands and drops nose; too much plane does not
land
- After landing slowly reduce throttle to idle, allow nose to come down when it
gets heavy, but keep elevator full back till off the runway and stopped.

9/ Instrument Flight
A/ Straight and level
- Keep wings level with ailerons using attitude indicator
- Keep little dot in center of AI on the horizon with elevator
- Check with turn coordinator that you are not turning. If necessary add rudder
on the side of the high wing on turn coordinator or on the side the ball is
- Go back to the AI to make sure wings are level and pitch correct
- Check with VSI that no climb or descent is happening
B/ Level turns
- Bank till wing bars on AI are parallel with first diagonal line (about 15
degrees); keep little dot from dropping by a little extra back pressure
- Check VSI is still 0, if not go back to AI and raise or lower the pitch by half
the width of the ball
- Check on TC that the turn is standard rate, if not go back to AI and adjust
bank angle +- 5 degrees.
- Lead roll out by 5-10 degrees, remember to use AI to roll level, and make
pitch level, do not stare at DG while rolling out
C/ Climb
- Looking at DG, add full power and just enough right rudder to keep DG
steady

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Raise nose 10 degrees and keep wings level with ailerons using attitude
indicator
For short climb do not trim, just increase back pressure as plane slows to keep
10 degrees up pitch, for long climbs retrim
If you retrim, remember the number of turns and later undo the same number
At the target altitude, lower nose to level pitch with AI and speed up to
previous airspeed, then reset power back to where it was. Pitch forces will
change keep wings level and dot on the horizon.
Retrim if needed same amount as trimmed up in the first place

D/ Descent
- Looking at DG, reduce power at least 500rpm (learn to do it by ear) and just
enough left rudder to keep DG steady may need carb heat
- Using attitude indicator lower nose 5 degrees keep wings level with ailerons
- Check power is indeed reduced at least 500rpm
- Check airspeed, should be the same as in level flight; if increasing bring nose
up about half the width of the little dot, if decreasing down about the same
- For prolonged descents retrim but only when speed stabilized
- Lead leveloff by 50-70. Add power back to where it was in level flight
- Plane will raise its nose you adjust it to place little dot on the horizon
- Retrim if needed
E/ Climbing and descending turns
- First start a climb or descent as above, then start a turn as above, do not try
both at once
- Keep nose attitude very carefully with AI, 10 degs up for climb, 5 degs down
for descent, bank no more than the first diagonal
- To adjust nose attitude, try to do it half the orange dots width at a time
- Lead rollout by 5-10 degrees, lead leveloff from descent by 50-10, do not
lead leveloff from climb
F/ VOR Nav - Remember Tune Twist Identify
- Go Direct To VOR; center needle on OBS, with a TO indication; turn airplane
shortest way to heading on TOP of OBS
- Track VOR if needle moves and stays off to one side, turn 10 degrees in that
direction and hold the new heading. Repeat as necessary in either direction
- To intercept a given radial if need to fly outbound, radial heading goes on
top of OBS and you need a FROM indication; if need to fly inbound, radial
heading goes on bottom of OBS and you need a TO indication; in either case,
now turn the airplane to the heading ON TOP OF OBS, and then 45 degrees
towards the needle. When needle centers track as above
G/ Unusual attitude recognition and recovery
- Airspeed indicator quickest and surest way to identify what is happening
- Airspeed high and increasing you are descending
Reduce power to idle
Use TC to roll level
Adjust pitch until airspeed starts decreasing no more
May need to pull, or push depending on airspeed and trim
When airspeed below normal cruise, add power and climb at Vy
- Airspeed low and decreasing you are climbing and in danger of stall/spin
Full power and push the nose till you feel light

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Do not use ailerons

When airspeed starts to increase, only then roll level using the TC
When airspeed reaches Vy, climb out at Vy if needed, or speed up to
cruise at level flight
H/ Emergency descent through clouds ONLY IF CEILING IS 1000 OR MORE
- Before entering cloud deck
If able to, declare emergency to ATC, or squawk 7700
Carb heat on, power 1500rpm;
Trim for about 80mph in a C172;
take and keep hands off ailerons; practice keeping wings level with
rudder alone
- As descend into cloud, continue keeping wings level with rudder and the AI
- When see ground, adjust power for level flight approx 2000rpm in a C172
find a suitable place to land and land
10/ Emergency descent
- Carb heat hot, power to idle
- Roll to 45 50 degrees of bank
- Lower nose to achieve and hold 120kts (just below the start of yellow arc)
- Do not overspeed you still need to level off and land
10(a)/ Emergency Descent in case of engine fire
- Fuel valve off, mixture to idle cutoff, mags off
- Full right rudder and hold it there (for pilot in left seat)
- Push left wing down to keep going straight and nose over to 120kts and hold it there to
blow fire out you will need a lot of control forces, remember speed is good
- Once fire is out proceed with emergency descent as above and engine out landing
- DO NOT TRY TO RESTART ENGINE
11/ Engine failure in flight
- Hold level attitude speed will reduce to Vbg
- Where are you going to land if fail to restart or too low to try restart?
- Have a field picked out already
- Trim full back will hold close to Vbg
- Maneuver so as to reach chosen field
- Best to try and fly a pattern however abbreviated than try straight in
- Understand and use high and low key points
- If time and altitude permits attempt restart
Carb heat on
Fuel on both or full tank
Mags on both (or whichever runs smoothly)
Mixture rich (or adjust)
Throttle full adjust if no result
Primer locked
If prop stopped try starter
- If no restart pull out checklist and see if anything forgotten
- Carry out emergency engine shutdown checklist and power off landing
- No 1 priority - maintain safe airspeed

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No 2 priority carry out safe landing without injuring anyone

Airplane belongs to insurance company
Fly the airplane till it comes to a complete stop
Get out and away from airplane help others to do the same
You did brief your passengers how to undo seat belts, open doors and windows, etc?

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