Execute a Slip

Flaps aren't the only way to help you lose altitude in a short distance. Many times they aren't even the best. The slip can make your plane drop like a rock while maintaining control throughout the maneuver. Use a slip when landing with a crosswind or use a forward slip to land with no flaps.

Steps

  1. Fly a normal traffic pattern and line up the runway on final.
  2. Pull the throttle to idle.
  3. Depress either rudder and apply opposite aileron. The slip is executed by cross control, so ensure you have plenty of airspeed to avoid stalling. The nose of the aircraft should be pointed towards the side of the runway and the wing towards the runway should be lower.
  4. Control the direction of the plane with the aileron and use the rudder to control the rate of descent.
  5. Once you have reached the desired altitude, release the rudder and level the plane with the ailerons.

Crosswind Landings

  1. Fly a standard approach to final.
  2. Lower the wing into the wind. If the wind is from the left, lower the left wing.
  3. Apply opposite rudder to keep the nose aligned with the center line.
  4. Touch down on the up-wind wheel first.

Tips

  • Make sure you have enough airspeed. (This is bad advice. If you are covering the pitot tube, then you will not be indicating the right airspeed. To prevent a spin at low altitude forward slip, ensure that during the ENTIRE maneuver that your nose is BELOW the horizon. Not level, but BELOW the horizon.)
  • Fly with an instructor first.
  • Give yourself a good straight final.
  • Practice both left wing low and right wing low.
  • Also, remember that you will have a lot of airspeed to bleed off so make sure that you have enough runway or wind to have time to slow down.
  • Most effective if done in an aerobatic aircraft with instructor because the aircraft is designed to do the slips aggressively and therefore you can know limits.

Warnings

  • A slip is an uncoordinated maneuver. If you stall the plane chances are it will be the last thing you do as the plane will go into a spin and you won't have enough altitude to recover.
  • Since the airplane is in such an unusual position the airflow around the pitot tube is not completely accurate. Have your instructor show you a good speed to do it at. (Basically what their saying is: "The pitot tube is not getting proper airflow therefore your airspeed will indicate improperly and should not be trusted until you are in coordinated flight)

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