Understanding the Slow Flight Technique

Slow flight is one of the most important maneuvers student pilots learn because it teaches precise aircraft control at airspeeds close to a stall. Mastering slow flight builds confidence, improves coordination, and helps pilots safely manage the aircraft during critical phases of flight such as takeoff, landing, and maneuvering in the traffic pattern.

What is slow flight?

There has been an important shift in how slow flight is defined. Prior to 2018, slow flight referred to an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack, load factor, or reduction in power would result in an immediate stall.

Today, slow flight is defined as an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack, load factor, or reduction in power would activate the stall warning (such as the stall horn), but not result in a full stall.

Slow flight occurs below maximum endurance speed and above stall warning speed. It is performed on the back side of the power curve, where higher power settings are required to maintain altitude at slower airspeeds.

What is the purpose of slow flight?

Slow flight training develops a pilot’s ability to maintain precise control of the aircraft at low airspeeds. These conditions demand greater coordination and smoother control inputs than normal cruise flight.

Practicing slow flight improves understanding of how airspeed, angle of attack, power, and load factor interact—skills that directly translate to safer takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds.

Slow flight helps pilots better understand the relationship between:

• Angle of attack
• Airspeed
• Load factor
• Power setting
• Aircraft weight and center of gravity
• Aircraft attitude
• Yaw and adverse yaw effects

The aerodynamics of slow flight

In slow flight, small control inputs have a much larger effect on aircraft performance. Induced drag increases significantly as angle of attack rises, requiring higher power settings to maintain altitude.

Unlike normal cruise flight—where pitch controls altitude and power controls airspeed—slow flight reverses this relationship. Pitch becomes the primary control for airspeed, while power is used to maintain altitude.

Because of increased drag and reduced airflow over the control surfaces, the aircraft becomes speed-unstable. Without proper control inputs, airspeed will continue to decay.

How to practice the slow flight technique

Slow flight is practiced under the guidance of a flight instructor during training. The goal is to maintain slow flight conditions without triggering a stall warning while performing basic maneuvers.

After clearing the area, select an altitude that allows completion of the maneuver no lower than 1,500 feet AGL.

Establish slow flight at approximately 5–10 knots above the aircraft’s stall warning speed. At this point, any additional increase in angle of attack or reduction in power would activate the stall warning.

While maintaining slow flight, practice straight-and-level flight, shallow turns, climbs, and descents. Focus on coordinated control inputs and smooth power management.

Expect reduced control responsiveness. Avoid steep turns, as increasing load factor also increases stall speed.

Maneuvering During Slow Flight: Common Errors

• Failing to perform clearing turns
• Poor coordination and adverse yaw management
• Fixating on the airspeed indicator
• Failure to maintain altitude
• Failure to maintain target airspeed
• Improper power management
• Excessive back pressure causing altitude excursions

Points to remember

• Slow flight is a foundational maneuver for pilot training
• It is flown just above stall warning speed
• Pitch controls airspeed; power controls altitude
• Control responsiveness is reduced
• Mastery improves overall aircraft handling and safety

Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Flight

• Is slow flight the same as a stall?
  No. Slow flight is performed above stall speed. The aircraft remains fully controllable when properly flown.
• Why does slow flight require more power?
  Increased induced drag at high angles of attack requires additional power to maintain altitude.
• When is slow flight used in real flying?
  Slow flight skills are used during takeoff, landing, go-arounds, and maneuvering in the traffic pattern.
• Why do the controls feel “mushy”?
  Reduced airflow over control surfaces decreases responsiveness at low airspeeds.

We recommend watching MzeroA’s Slow Flight training video for a visual walkthrough.

Keep the learning going with more aviation guides:

• Understanding the Slow Flight Technique
• How to Fly Turns Around a Point
• Conquer Steep Turns
• Adverse Yaw Explained

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