Straight flight means that the aircraft is not yawed, level flight means that the wings are level with the horizon and the pitch is stable. Note that this is not an exercise at flying on course. Straight and level flight only references attitudes and motions relative to the horizon. The outline for this exercise is:
- Instructor coaches student’s attempt at Pre-Takeoff Checks.
- Student does not have hands on controls during launch until after 300 feet.
- Instructor directs the student’s attention to the towplane until just before 300 feet.
- Instructor prompts student to call out 300 feet, and then check the altimeter if not called out.
- Student’s attention directed to the towplane again. If conditions are not turbulent the student is allowed to follow through on the controls for the remainder of the aerotow. Instructor’s actions during the aerotow are simply described to the student.
- Instructor coaches lookout, release, and turn. Student performs with instructor following through on controls. Once in level flight instructor hands control over to the student alone and coaches trimming.
- Instructor coaches student attempt to locate the airfield.
- Student coached to do a lookout and a gentle turn. Directed to observe the nose swing across the horizon.
- Student coached to attain level flight levelling the aircraft out of the turn until the swinging across the horizon stops. Student practises in both directions.10. Student practises turns as instructor directs flight to the circuit. Instructor sets course without talking to the student about ground references and only requires maintenance of level flight.
- Instructor takes control with student following through and coaches the downwind checks.
- Instructor takes control from the base leg onward with student not on the controls, and provides simple descriptions of the actions taken during the landing.
The student is shown level flight and then the instructor starts a very shallow turn and points out to the student how the nose is swinging in relation to the horizon. The instructor then levels the wings and the swinging should stop. The student then tries this exercise. At no point is any mention made of specific objects to fly towards as this only confuses the issue. Once the student can control this swinging they have an important visual cue to level flight. At some later time, after crabbing and wind drift have been demonstrated and practised, the student will be introduced to flying a course line towards a fixed object. Take advantage of another later flight when crosswinds are evident, to introduce the concept of flying a course line.