Power Plus Attitude Equals Performance

T-34C INSTRUMENTS

CHAPTER ONE

To understand this picture, one must interpret what is "seen" and then take effective control action.

Proper interpretation of this "vision through instruments" requires an understanding of:

The functions, indications, and limitations of the instruments.

The forces that enable an airplane to fly.

The response of the controls to these forces and the combination of power and balanced

attitude necessary to deliver the desired balanced flight performance.

Instrument flying is mastered when the instrument panel is used as a lens or window to "see" the

airplane's attitude with respect to the three dimensions in which it travels and effective control

action is taken to maintain the desired performance and attitude.

By "scanning" the instruments, the threedimensional attitude of the aircraft is available at any

particular moment. If it is necessary to change the attitude, airspeed, or aircraft configuration,

simply use power with coordinated primary control surface action. Develop the required power

and balanced flight attitude condition to obtain the desired performance. Remember, attitude

instrument flight is nothing more than the use of the flight instruments to "see" the three

dimensional aircraft attitude in relation to the actual horizon. Control forces are applied just as

in contact flight to adjust the nose, wing position, and rudder to the desired attitude to produce

the desired performance.

103.

POWER PLUS ATTITUDE EQUALS PERFORMANCE

Balanced flight is the flight condition in which primary aircraft control surfaces exactly

compensate for the effects of applied aircraft power and airspeed during a specific maneuver

performance and is characterized by an absence of aircraft yaw. Specifically, balanced flight

occurs when the aircraft's longitudinal (nosetotail) axis is coincident with the aircraft flight

path regardless of flight maneuver, airspeed or power applied, including turns, climbs/descents,

or any combination. When yaw exists, the aircraft power and attitude combination is not

optimized and performance will be degraded from that which might be anticipated.

For every power and balanced flight attitude combination, a specific performance may be

expected. Power coupled with a specific balanced aircraft maneuvering attitude controls the

performance of the aircraft. To illustrate, if we apply climb power without raising the nose to

climb attitude, we simply build up airspeed without climbing. Alternatively, if we place the nose

of the aircraft in a climbing attitude, but do not add power, we gain a small amount of altitude as

airspeed decreases. From these simple facts, we realize power and balanced flight attitude are

allies. Together, they form a combination resulting in efficient flight performance and giving us

a guiding concept for attitude instrument flight. In addition, since many combinations of these

two factors are required during a routine instrument flight, corresponding trim adjustments must

be made immediately following each change in power and/or attitude to compensate for overall

changes in aircraft performance and to maintain the aircraft in or return the aircraft to a balanced

flight, balance ball centered condition. Good trim technique applied in a timely fashion will

enable you to maintain a balanced flight attitude during any maneuver and throughout any

performance transition without holding variable or continuous control pressure.

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC INSTRUMENTS 1-3