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The Back Side of the Power Curve (or lack thereof) in a propeller driven aircraft

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The area of reversed command is very common in jet aircraft. It is not a given in a propeller driven aircraft. All too often explanations of the back side of the power curve intermix drag and power. The minimum of the power curve occurs at a much lower speed, near or even below stall. This makes a nonissue in many propeller driven aircraft during landing. This video demonstrates the inability to reach the backside of the power curve in a Lancair despite slowing to near stall speed.

The caution given in discussions about the back side of the power curve is to not get too slow on approach as a high sink rate will develop. What is typically not presented are the differences between jets and piston aircraft that make getting too slow in a jet so much more problematic.

Does the aircraft you fly have a backside of the power curve on landing approach? Here is a quick way to check. In the landing configuration and idle power, fly points along the entire flap speed range. The backside of the power curve is indicated by a lower speed having a higher descent rate than higher speeds.

posted by irridaFagni