Definition
The higher of the typical level-flight cruise speeds an aircraft is operated at, achieved with a higher power setting and a correspondingly lower (more nose-down) pitch attitude to maintain level flight. It is contrasted with normal or slow cruise, where less power and a higher pitch attitude are used to hold altitude.
Plain English
When the aircraft is flown level at a faster cruise setting, the engine produces more power and the nose sits a little lower than it would at a slower cruise speed. That lower nose position is the pitch attitude associated with fast cruise.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when comparing how pitch attitude changes as airspeed changes in level flight.
Derivation
“Cruise” comes from an older idea of traveling steadily over a distance. That helps here because cruise speed is not a quick burst of speed; it is a steady speed used while traveling.
Why Pilots Care
Helps pilots recognize how small pitch and power changes produce predictable speed differences for efficient flight control and planning.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane already level, then smoothly accelerating to a faster steady travel speed while the pilot adjusts pitch and power to keep the altitude from changing.
Intuition Check
Fast cruise speed does not mean maximum speed. It means a higher steady cruise speed that is still appropriate for the airplane and situation.
Example Sentence 1
At fast cruise speed, the instructor pointed out that the miniature airplane on the attitude indicator was sitting just below the horizon line, even though they were holding altitude exactly.
Example Sentence 2
At fast cruise speed the airspeed indicator showed a higher value than normal cruise with only a small change in pitch attitude.