Definition
A basic flight maneuver in which the airplane descends along a straight ground track at a controlled airspeed with engine power reduced or at idle, maintaining a steady pitch attitude and coordinated flight without turning.
Plain English
Flying the airplane down in a straight line with the power pulled back, holding a steady descent at the right speed.
Context Anchor
Seen in early flight training syllabi when students learn controlled descents before adding turns or more complex landing practice.
Derivation
Glide comes from an old word meaning to move smoothly. In aviation, it points to the airplane moving smoothly downward through the air without relying on much engine power. Straight keeps its ordinary meaning of not curving or turning.
Why Pilots Care
Builds precise heading control and energy management before introducing turns or more complex maneuvers.
Intuition Check
Straight does not mean level flight here; it means the airplane is not turning. Glide does not mean drifting freely; it is a controlled descent at a chosen speed.
Example Sentence 1
After reaching the practice area, the instructor demonstrated straight glides at the airplane's best glide speed.
Example Sentence 2
Straight glides are introduced early in the syllabus so the student masters basic pitch and bank control before adding turns.