AFH 4-10

Thus, transitioning to a higher altitude at a constant speed (1-to-2) requires increased throttle and up-elevator to stay on speed, while transitioning to a faster airspeed at a constant altitude (1-to-3) demands increased throttle and (gradual) down-elevator to stay on path, re-trimming as needed to relieve elevator control pressures. Transitioning to a lower altitude at a constant speed (1-to-4) requires decreased throttle and down-elevator to stay on speed, while transitioning to a slower airspeed at a constant altitude (1-to-5) demands decreased throttle and (gradual) up-elevator to stay on path, re-trimming as needed to relieve elevator control pressures. Finally, transitioning to a higher altitude by trading speed for altitude (1-to-6) requires up-elevator without initially changing throttle setting, while transitioning to a faster airspeed by trading altitude for speed (1-to-7) requires down-elevator without initially changing throttle setting. In both cases, at the end of the energy exchange maneuver, the elevator will need to be re-trimmed and throttle setting adjusted to match drag at the new speed in order to maintain total energy constant while remaining at the new altitude-airspeed target. As can be visualized in Figure 4-8, there are three general energy control rules for coordinating the throttle and elevator to move the airplane from one energy state to another: Rule #1: If you want to move to a new energy state that demands more total energy, then: Throttle: increase throttle setting so that thrust is greater than drag, thus increasing total energy; Elevator: adjust pitch attitude as appropriate to distribute the total energy being gained over altitude and airspeed: a. To climb at constant speed, pitch up just enough to maintain the desired speed; b. To accelerate at constant altitude, gradually pitch down just enough to maintain path. Upon reaching new desired energy state, adjust pitch attitude and throttle setting as needed to maintain the new path-speed profile. Rule #2: If you want to move to a new energy state that demands less total energy, then: Throttle: reduce throttle setting so that thrust is less than drag, thus decreasing total energy; Elevator: adjust pitch attitude as appropriate to distribute the total energy being lost over altitude and airspeed: a. To descend at constant speed, pitch down just enough to maintain the desired speed; b. To slow down at constant altitude, gradually pitch up just enough to maintain path. Upon reaching new desired energy state, adjust pitch attitude and throttle setting as needed to maintain the new path-speed profile. Rule #3: If you want to move to a new energy state that demands no change in total energy, then: Throttle: do not change initially, but adjust to match drag at the end of maneuver as needed to maintain total energy constant; Elevator: adjust pitch attitude to exchange energy between altitude and airspeed: a. To trade speed for altitude, pitch up; b. To trade altitude for speed, pitch down. Upon reaching new desired energy state, adjust pitch attitude and throttle setting as needed to maintain the new path-speed profile. Note that control rules 1 and 2 allow the elevator to distribute the change in total energy in different ways. For example, using rule 1.a the pilot may choose to adjust the pitch-up attitude to climb at a slower (or faster) airspeed. Other situations may require combining two control rules. One example is when, at maximum cruise airspeed in level flight, thrust has reached its maximum limit (i.e., PS = 0) but the target energy state is at a higher altitude and total energy within the airplane’s envelope. At maximum level airspeed, there is no excess thrust available to increase the airplane’s total energy needed to climb. One solution is to initially trade kinetic for potential energy (rule 3.a), slowing down to an airspeed where drag is reduced below thrust, thus allowing the airplane to increase its total energy and climb at that slower airspeed (rule 1.a).