glide

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.

Definition

A controlled descent in an aircraft using gravity as the source of forward motion, with little or no engine power. The aircraft trades altitude for airspeed and distance, descending along a path determined by its lift-to-drag ratio and the pilot's chosen airspeed.

Plain English

Flying downward in a steady, controlled way without using engine power, letting the aircraft's forward motion come from its loss of altitude.

Context Anchor

Used in engine-out practice, landing planning, glider flying, and any discussion of how far an aircraft can travel after power is reduced or lost.

Derivation

From Old English 'glidan,' meaning to move smoothly and quietly. The original sense — moving without obvious effort or propulsion — fits the aviation meaning closely: the aircraft moves through the air without engine thrust driving it.

Why Pilots Care