Plain English Meaning

Flying in a straight line at a steady height, wings level, not climbing or descending and not turning.

Full Definition

A flight condition in which the aircraft maintains a constant heading and a constant altitude, with wings level and no climb, descent, or turn.

Context Anchor

This is one of the first basic flight conditions a student pilot practices, and it is used as a starting point before many other maneuvers.

Derivation

Straight comes from an Old English word meaning stretched out or direct. Level comes through French from a Latin word connected with a or even line. Together, the phrase points to flight that is direct in direction and even in height.