FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Flight Maneuvers and EndorsementsEasy
A flight instructor is teaching a chandelle to a commercial pilot applicant. During the second 90° of the turn (from the 90° point to the 180° rollout point), the pitch attitude should be:
- AIncreased continuously to gain the maximum possible altitude
- BDecreased steadily throughout to build airspeed for recovery
- CHeld essentially constant while the bank angle is gradually decreased to wings-level
- DIncreased sharply, then abruptly reduced just before rollout
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Held essentially constant while the bank angle is gradually decreased to wings-level
In a chandelle, the maximum pitch attitude is established by the 90° point. During the last 90° of turn, that pitch attitude is held essentially constant while the bank is smoothly rolled out to wings-level, arriving at the 180° point just above stall speed at maximum climb power.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Pitch is not increased further after the 90° point; it is held constant.
- B. Decreasing pitch early would prevent achieving maximum altitude gain for the maneuver.
- D. An abrupt pitch change is not part of the smooth, coordinated technique required.
Chandelle Pitch/Bank Sequence
A chandelle is a maximum-performance climbing turn where bank is constant while pitch increases in the first 90°, then pitch is held constant while bank decreases in the second 90°.
- Entry at maneuvering speed with a constant bank (commonly ~30°)
- Max pitch reached by the 90° point
- Second 90°: bank rolls to level while pitch stays constant
- Rollout occurs just above stall speed at max climb power
Memory trick: 'Bank first, pitch second' — hold the bank, build the pitch, then hold the pitch and lose the bank.