Definition 1 of 2
Definition
A controlled descent in an airplane with little or no engine power, in which the airplane trades altitude for forward motion through the air. The pilot manages pitch attitude to maintain a specific airspeed that produces a desired performance, such as the longest distance over the ground or the slowest rate of descent.
Plain English
A glide is when the airplane is descending without using engine power to keep it up. The airplane keeps moving forward by giving up height, and the pilot adjusts the nose to fly at the right speed for the kind of glide they want.
Context Anchor
Seen in basic flight maneuvers, power-off descents, approach practice, and engine-failure training.
Derivation
From Old English 'glidan,' meaning to move smoothly and steadily. The aviation use keeps that sense -- a smooth, steady descent rather than a controlled fall or a sharp drop.
Why Pilots Care
In an engine failure the pilot must immediately establish the correct glide speed and configuration to reach a safe landing area.
Grounding Statement
In a glide, the airplane trades altitude for forward movement while staying under control.
Intuition Check
Glide does not mean the airplane is floating or falling. It means the airplane is still flying, but it is descending with little or no help from the engine.
Example Sentence 1
After reducing power on final approach, the student established a stable glide toward the runway.
Example Sentence 2
During the lesson the instructor pulled the throttle to idle and had the student practice a power-off glide to the runway.