ahw01
Well-Known Member
I would hope that your instructor could provide a good answer here. Buuut, here is the correct one. The actual correct answer is it depends on which side of the power curve you're on. If you're on the backside of the power curve (slow), as you get slower, induced drag increases, so you need more thrust to counteract. Long story short, pitch directly controls airspeed, and power controls airspeed. If you're at a normal cruise speed (on the front side of the power curve), pitch controls altitude, and power controls airspeed. As you slow towards best glide speed, the transition occurs, so usually at your landing approach speed in a light piston single, both pitch and power affect altitude and airspeed equally.
I've had a beer or four, so clear as mud?
This is what the examiner was after on the CFIA checkride.