In a way maybe we are not seeing the real picture between glide approaches or powered approaches or in fact the pitch for speed argument that has raged for years.
The basic form of flight is the Glider it uses someone elses energy to tow it into the sky and on a still lift free day taps into its own potential energy trading altitude for that energy and hence enough airflow to keep the wing flying.
We then move to very low powered high drag air frames which because of their low power and high drag rely more on the potential energy in the airframe.
Add high powered aircraft and tapping into the airframes potential energy becomes less important.
I always see energy management between the engine and airframe as two sets of throttles, the one which runs to the engine and the control column which allows you to pitch for the second source of energy.
Hence as in the pitch for speed argument neither is wrong as its more about managing the energy and drag available to you and that is very type specific and situation specific
As stated the Glide Approach is one form of approach not THE APPROACH
Your skills as a pilot play a major part managing those two sources of potential energy as well as the various types of drag used for your benefit or against your benefit.
Here the novice pilot has to be protected from his lack of skills by erring on the safer way from getting into low power high drag situations
Pace
Last edited by Pace; 30th April 2013 at 11:27.