Capt. P. B.,
Yes I see your point about Thrust being AWOL. I should have spoken about the effect of gravity along the flight path.
The problem is not contact with students - the student can't really debate the issues. It is contact with other instructors. Even the "refresher" seminars lack any serious discussion on matters such as these.
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C. G. B.,
DFC, thanks for the lesson in stability. However, I think you are confusing thrust with power.
Not at all.
The total drag curve show the total drag at various speeds.
To maintain a constant speed in a powered aircraft, one has in simple terms to make thrust equal to the drag.
In a jet aircraft it is (relatively) simple - make thrust equal to drag and you are a happy bunny.
However, in a propeller aircraft as you have quite correctly pointed out, the power required curve is not the same shape and in fact can be very different from the total drag curve due to propeller efficiency etc.
That is why I have tried all along to use Thrust and have tried to only use B747 (jet) or glider as examples.
So let's forget about "power" since that is a different debate.
Regards,
DFC