Definition
A foundational principle of attitude instrument flying which states that any predictable aircraft performance — a specific airspeed, rate of climb, rate of descent, or level flight — is the direct result of setting a known power setting combined with a known pitch and bank attitude. Performance is not controlled directly; it is produced by controlling power and attitude.
Plain English
If you set the right power and hold the right attitude, the airplane will give you the performance you want. You don't fly the numbers on the performance instruments — you fly the power and the attitude, and the performance follows.
Context Anchor
Used in instrument flying when setting up and checking climbs, descents, turns, level flight, and airspeed changes by reference to the flight instruments.
Derivation
In aviation, attitude means the airplane's position in relation to the horizon, not a person's mood. Performance means what the airplane actually does as a result. The phrase is built to remind pilots that the airplane's result comes from the combination of those two inputs: power and attitude.
Why Pilots Care
Allows precise aircraft control and predictable performance when outside visual references are unavailable, which is essential for safe instrument flight.
Grounding Statement
Hold the same power and the same aircraft attitude in the same configuration, and the airplane will tend to give the same result.
Intuition Check
Do not read attitude as emotional state; here it means the airplane's position. Do not read performance as a test score; here it means what the airplane actually does in flight.
Example Sentence 1
For a stabilized approach, the instructor reminded her that power and attitude equal performance — set approach power, hold the approach pitch attitude, and the airspeed and descent rate will fall into place.
Example Sentence 2
On the approach, the pilot selected approach power and the proper pitch attitude to maintain the target airspeed.