Definition
A flight condition in which the airplane maintains a constant heading and a constant altitude, with the wings level and no turn in progress.
Plain English
Flying in a straight line, at one altitude, with the wings level. Not climbing, not descending, not turning.
Context Anchor
Used in basic airplane control and slow-flight practice, especially when a pilot is asked to hold direction and altitude while flying slowly.
Why Pilots Care
It is the stable baseline from which all maneuvers begin and the condition to which pilots return to re-establish control and reference speeds.
Intuition Check
Straight-and-level does not mean the airplane is motionless or that the pilot is doing nothing. It means the pilot is keeping the airplane from turning, climbing, or descending.
Example Sentence 1
After completing the slow flight demonstration, the student returned the airplane to straight-and-level before beginning the next maneuver.
Example Sentence 2
Once established in straight-and-level, the pilot noted the exact pitch attitude and power setting needed to hold altitude.