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Flaps vs slipping

Two words of caution on sideslipping on final approach.

First, it has already been mentioned that it can affect airspeed indication. On some types very little, while other types will have negative airspeed indicated. On some types, depending of configuration, sideslipping will blanket some of the tail/elevator, requiring a different elevator (usually stick back) input to maintain airspeed. So, when straightening out from a sideslip, a little down elevator is required to maintain airspeed – a potentially critical issue on short final.

Second, aircraft types are very differently behaving when it comes to sideslipping. One some types the rudder can be sucked out to max deflection, requiring force to neutralize. Many types will hardly sideslip at all. Some types has asymmetrical rudder deflection limits, making it better at sideslipping to one side than the other.

Bottom line – do not try slipping for the first time on short final. For every new type, or new flap setting, do it at altitude first.

Last Edited by huv at 25 Mar 10:37
huv
EKRK, Denmark

Somewhere I have a “Slips with Flaps” T-shirt (in the vein of “Runs with scissors”). It came about probably over 10 years ago due to the recurrent “Aren’t slips with flaps prohibited?” threads that would come up in rec.aviation.piloting. Usually due to the C172 manual saying that slips with flaps fully extended were not recommended or other similar verbiage that didn’t actually prohibit it, and people thinking that meant it was prohibited not just on the C172N (which it isn’t) but on every aircraft type!

Andreas IOM
12 Posts
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