Sorry, just an SLF with no flying experience so naughty of me to post but can I just clarify NigelonDraft's statement at #3 "a modern clean airliner will not descend >3degreees without gear / speedbrake." You meant a modern clean airliner will not descend >3degreees without accelerating without gear / speedbrake." Right? If that is right, do flaps make any difference or does it take something really dirty like gear or s/b to inhibit the tendency to speed up?
Thanks.