Power n' pitch...

[Roger Roger]

Agreed, to add, the DPE was asking what side of the power curve I was on for a short field landing.

Trimming for an airspeed (at least in a 172) is something that was also new to me.

Problem with trimming for airspeed in a 172 is the propwash on the tail has a very large effect on your trim airspeed. Trim for 65 knots power off (or even at 1500 RPM) and then go full throttle and unless you intervene you will enter a trim tab stall. As long as you're making small power adjustments you'll be ok, but a common trap is getting a little low on final and having to add power (and especially if you are a little slow, the power required will be substantial). Now if you don't correct with a little forward pressure, the propwash on the tail actually makes the airplane seek a slower speed, increasing drag...etc. The technique of trim for speed on short final is perfectly valid in a 172, but you still have to be aware of the interaction of pitch and power.

 

[PhilosopherPilot]

That sounds like a pretty fancy jet!

Not as fancy as an Airbus, right @ATN_Pilot?

 

[ahw01]

Agreed, by trim for airspeed the instructors were meaning that once a speed is attained, the aircraft will stay at that speed vs trimming 'level'. The elevator trim stall demo was fun to do though.