Plain English Meaning
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.
Full 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.
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.