Slow Flight, Explained: How to Fly Right at the Edge, in Full Control

Training
Written By Jacob Henderson

Slow flight is where you learn what your airplane is really telling you. The airspeed drops, the controls get soft, the nose sits high, and you fly the airplane just above the speed where the stall warning would come on.

It's not the most dramatic maneuver you'll learn. But it might be one of the most important, because every landing you make happens at a slow speed. Here's what slow flight is, why we practice it and how to fly it.

What is slow flight?

In slow flight, you fly the airplane at an airspeed where any more angle of attack, any more load factor or any less power would set off the stall warning. Angle of attack is the angle between the wing and the oncoming air. In other words, you're flying right at the edge, while staying in full control.

Once you're there, you'll fly straight and level, make turns, climb and descend, all at that slow airspeed. It feels very different from cruise. The controls take bigger movements to get the same response, and you'll need a lot more right rudder.

Why we practice it

Slow flight teaches you three things you'll use for the rest of your flying life. First, how the airplane feels at approach and landing speeds. Second, how to recognize the signs that you're getting close to a stall, like mushy controls and a quiet, high-nose attitude. Third, how to stay in control when the airplane is working hard.

It also sets you up for stall training, which usually comes right after. Once you know where the edge is, a stall stops feeling like a surprise.

Setting up slow flight: clear the area at least 1,500 feet above the ground, reduce power, add flaps in the white arc, raise the nose to hold altitude, then add power to hold an airspeed just above the stall warningSetting up slow flightFive steps from cruise to the edge of the envelope1Clear the areaTwo clearing turns,at least 1,500 ftabove the ground2Power backCarb heat on if your172 has it, thenreduce power3Flaps in thewhite arcAdd them in steps asthe airspeed bleedsoff4Raise the noseHold altitude as theairplane slows down5Add power tohold itJust above the stallwarning, with rightrudderCruiseSlow flightSetting up slow flight: clear the area at least 1,500 feet above the ground, reduce power, add flaps in the white arc, raise the nose to hold altitude, then add power to hold an airspeed just above the stall warningSetting upslow flightFive steps from cruise to the edgeof the envelope1Clear the areaTwo clearing turns, at least1,500 ft above the ground2Power backCarb heat on if your 172 has it,then reduce power3Flaps in the white arcAdd them in steps as theairspeed bleeds off4Raise the noseHold altitude as the airplaneslows down5Add power to hold itJust above the stall warning,with right rudder

How to set up slow flight, step by step

We'll practice slow flight in the practice area, away from Tampa International's busy airspace and with plenty of altitude below us.

How to enter slow flight in a Cessna 172
StepWhat to do
1. Clear the areaFly clearing turns and pick an altitude that keeps you at least 1,500 feet above the ground the whole time.
2. Reduce powerIf your 172 has a carburetor, pull carb heat on first. Then bring the power back and hold your altitude as the airplane slows.
3. Add flapsOnce you're in the white arc on the airspeed indicator, add flaps in steps, usually to full flaps.
4. Raise the noseKeep adding back pressure to hold altitude. Trim as you go so you're not fighting the yoke.
5. Add power to hold itAs you approach your target airspeed, add power to stop the slowdown and hold altitude.
6. Hold it with right rudderHigh power and a high nose make the airplane want to turn left. Use right rudder to keep the ball centered.

The big secret: the controls trade jobs

In cruise, you probably think of the throttle as your speed control. In slow flight, it flips. Small changes in pitch now control your airspeed, and power controls whether you climb or descend.

Want to slow down a knot or two? Raise the nose slightly. Starting to sink? Add a little power. Trying to fix altitude with pitch alone is the most common slow flight mistake, and it's exactly the habit we want you to avoid on a slow, low approach to landing.

Flying slow flight: pitch controls your airspeed and power controls your altitude. Standards are altitude within 100 feet, heading within 10 degrees, airspeed plus 10 minus 0 knots and bank within 10 degrees. To recover, add full power, lower the nose to hold altitude and retract flaps in stepsFlying it, and flying out of itAt slow speeds, the controls trade jobsNOSEPitchcontrols airspeedTHROTTLEPowercontrols altitude±100 ftAltitude±10°Heading+10 / −0Airspeed,knots±10°BankRECOVERY1Full powerCarb heat off, right rudder2Lower the noseHold your altitude as you speed up3Flaps up in stepsAs airspeed builds, not all at onceFlying slow flight: pitch controls your airspeed and power controls your altitude. Standards are altitude within 100 feet, heading within 10 degrees, airspeed plus 10 minus 0 knots and bank within 10 degrees. To recover, add full power, lower the nose to hold altitude and retract flaps in stepsFlying it, andflying out of itAt slow speeds, the controls trade jobsNOSEPitchcontrols airspeedTHROTTLEPowercontrols altitude±100 ftAltitude±10°Heading+10 / −0Airspeed, knots±10°BankRECOVERY1Full powerCarb heat off, right rudder2Lower the noseHold your altitude as youspeed up3Flaps up in stepsAs airspeed builds, not all atonce

The checkride standards

Your examiner will ask you to fly slow flight and might add turns, climbs, descents or flap changes. Here's what the Private Pilot ACS asks for:

Private Pilot ACS standards for slow flight
StandardWhat you're aiming for
AirspeedJust above the stall warning, within +10 and -0 knots. Never slower.
AltitudeThe specified altitude, within 100 feet.
HeadingThe specified heading, within 10 degrees.
Bank angleThe specified bank, within 10 degrees.
Minimum altitudeCompleted no lower than 1,500 feet above the ground.
Stall warningIt shouldn't come on. If it does, you're a little too slow.

How to recover from slow flight

When it's time to go back to cruise, recover in this order: add full power, with carb heat off if your airplane has it, and right rudder for the left-turning tendency. Lower the nose to hold your altitude as the airspeed builds. Then bring the flaps up in steps, not all at once.

That last part matters. Pull all the flaps up at once at a slow airspeed and the airplane will sink. Bringing them up in stages, as the airspeed builds, keeps you level.

Common slow flight mistakes and how to fix them
MistakeThe fix
Chasing altitude with pitchRemember the trade: pitch for airspeed, power for altitude.
Setting off the stall warningLower the nose slightly and add a touch of power. Aim for a few knots above the warning.
Drifting leftUse more right rudder. At high power and low speed, it takes a lot.
Losing altitude on the entryRaise the nose steadily as the airplane slows. Don't wait for the altimeter to tell you.
Flaps up all at once on recoveryRetract them in steps as the airspeed builds.
Forgetting to look outsideSlow flight has a high nose. Clear the area and keep scanning for traffic.

What it feels like

Honestly? A little strange at first. The airplane feels lazy. You'll move the yoke and wait for a response. The wind noise drops, the nose sits higher than you're used to, and you'll find yourself pressing on the right rudder harder than you expected.

By the time you've done it a few times, it starts to feel normal. That's the point. When you're slowing down on final approach, nothing about the airplane should surprise you.

Want to put those skills to work near the ground? Check out our guide to S-turns.

Ready to try it?

Every great landing starts with knowing how your airplane flies slow. Book a $199 discovery flight at Tampa Executive Airport, and let's go fly.

Jacob Henderson
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