B737 High Altitude Stall Recovery Technique

[Old Smokey]

Hi Centaurus,

I've done a lot of stall test flying at high altitudes.(Fully developed / Full back-stick stalls). None were on the B737 series.

The standard technique (as used by the manufacturer's test pilots) was to -

(1) Immediately apply Maximum Thrust,

(2) Gently lower the nose until the speed trend vector 10 knots per second increase, and

(3) Smoothly pitch up (to avoid a secondary stall) when speed reaches Minimum Manoeuvre Speed or VLS (1.3G) for glass cockpits.

These are the certification routines, and if it works for them.................

So there it is - Minimum Manoeuvre Speed (don't forget EAS effect at high altitude) for non-glass cockpits, or VLS for those with that facility. Whatever gives you 1.3G protection is the yard stick.

Regards,

Old Smokey