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What does best glide airspeed provide?

Choices

  • ✓ The greatest distance forward for the altitude lostcorrect

    Best glide maximizes horizontal distance per foot of descent.

  • The slowest possible descent rate regardless of distance

    That describes minimum sink, which is a different speed than best glide.

  • The highest airspeed the airframe can tolerate

    That is never-exceed speed, unrelated to gliding distance.

  • The best rate of climb

    Best glide applies to a power-off descent, not a climb.

Why

Best glide airspeed gives the greatest forward distance for each foot of altitude lost. Flying faster or slower steepens the descent and shortens the reach.

FAA source: Airplane Flying Handbook / best glide and field selectionbrowse the reference library →

This is taught in Engine Failure: After Takeoff and at Altitude — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

What does best glide airspeed provide? · PPL Free Ground School