Definition
A maximum-performance climbing turn that begins from approximately straight-and-level flight and ends at the completion of a 180° turn in a wings-level, nose-high attitude at the minimum controllable airspeed. The maneuver is a coordinated training exercise that combines a constant-rate turn with a steadily increasing pitch attitude, demanding precise control of bank, pitch, power, and airspeed throughout.
Plain English
A training maneuver where the pilot makes a smooth 180-degree climbing turn, ending with the wings level, the nose high, and the airplane flying as slowly as it safely can.
Context Anchor
Seen in commercial pilot training and checkride preparation as a performance maneuver.
Derivation
From the French chandelle, meaning 'candle.' The name reflects the way the airplane appears to climb upward like a candle standing tall — a steep, graceful rise ending nose-high.
Why Pilots Care
Builds precise energy management and aircraft control needed for safe high-performance flight.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a chandelle as just a steep turn or an aerobatic trick. It is a controlled training maneuver: a 180-degree climbing turn designed to gain maximum altitude while staying coordinated and under control.
Example Sentence 1
During the commercial checkride, the applicant entered a chandelle to the left, rolled into 30° of bank, and smoothly raised the nose to finish wings-level at minimum controllable airspeed after 180° of turn.
Example Sentence 2
At the 180-degree point the chandelle finishes with the airplane at minimum speed, wings level, and maximum altitude.