02 Straight and Level
CASA Recreational Pilot License (Aeroplane) — CASA Sample Syllabus Lesson 2.
The aim of this lesson is for the student to maintain straight and level flight at a range of power settings, recognise the flight attitude that corresponds to each, and balance and trim the aeroplane through changes of power, attitude and airspeed. It builds directly on Lesson 1: having learned what each control does, the student now learns to use those controls to make the aeroplane fly itself — freeing up head-space for the other tasks of flying.
Theory Brief
Section titled “Theory Brief”The four forces, how lift is generated, stability and attitude flying, and the performance formula — Power + Attitude = Performance — that underlies all of our flying. View the slides on this page below or open the slides directly.
Pre-flight briefing notes
Section titled “Pre-flight briefing notes”The pre-flight brief (~15 min, immediately before the flight) works best as an interactive whiteboard session, not slides — stepping through the flight plan, threats and airmanship together with the student. These printable notes give you the briefing components (aim, flight walk-through, threats, lookout and handover) with prompts and fill-in blanks, plus a front page to sketch your own whiteboard plan and running order. Although it will be helpful to plan and step through it yourself before the lesson, remember: modelling the process of the pre-flight brief is more important than presenting a polished pre-flight brief. This is why we do it interactively rather than a presentation. Download the PDF of the briefing notes to print or use offline.
In-flight notes
Section titled “In-flight notes”Instructor kneeboard reference for the airborne sequence. These use a portrait layout for easier use on a kneeboard or device. View the slides on this page on the right or open the slides directly, or download the PDF of the in-flight notes to print or use on your device offline.
Post-flight debrief
Section titled “Post-flight debrief”I plan to add post-flight debriefs once I have more experience conducting them, but I’m assuming it’ll be more of a personal preference with assessment outcomes than a set of slides.
Useful resources for students
Section titled “Useful resources for students”- Veritasium — How does a wing actually work? (3 min) — the simplest correct explanation of lift.
- MinutePhysics — How do aeroplanes fly? (3 min) — a modern overview of lift.
- The FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Chapter 4: Principles of Flight covers the aerodynamic forces in accessible detail and is freely available online.
Example email to students before the lesson
Section titled “Example email to students before the lesson”If you are an instructor, feel free to modify this for your own use. Sending an email a few days before a lesson is a great way to engage people in the learning before they even arrive (if they have time and capacity).
Subject: Straight and Level flight lesson this [day]
Good morning/afternoon [name]!
Our next lesson together focuses on straight and level flight — another fundamental skill that gives us time to manage the aeroplane. We’ll be exploring how the aeroplane holds its altitude and heading, and learning to maintain straight and level flight by maintaining our orientation relative to the Earth’s horizon (known as attitude).
During our theory session we’ll cover the four aerodynamic forces (lift, weight, thrust and drag), how lift is generated, and the key principle that governs all of flying: Power + Attitude = Performance. Once that formula clicks, straight and level flight makes a lot of sense.
In the air we’ll practise maintaining straight and level flight at a variety of airspeeds — normal cruise, fast cruise, slow cruise and with flaps extended — so you experience firsthand how small adjustments to power and attitude keep the aeroplane on track.
If you’d like to do some background reading before we meet, chapter 4 of the FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge covers aerodynamic forces and the atmosphere in accessible detail. Or if you prefer video introductions, the two I’ve linked below give a modern overview of lift in an aeroplane.
See you [day],
— Michael
[1] How does a wing actually work? (3 min)
[2] How do aeroplanes fly? (3 min)