Originally Posted by
PearlPilot
Testing the operating envelope of an airplane requires a higher degree of skill and knowledge. The topic at hand in this post certainly says that. I have and teach the use of slips constantly and quite frankly I enjoy doing them especially when landing with no flaps on a Skyhawk. The combination of high terrain, and low altitude, made me feel like a recipe for a disaster to try being uncoordinated. I just did not feel comfortable. I listened to that infamous inner feeling that said "don't do it."
It's knowing the airplane and knowing your skills. Slips with the 40 degree flap setting in the 172 is not good - that's why the newer models only go to 30. I'd let pax know, "we're a little high, so I'm going to turn the airplane sideways to get down, it's better to be too high than too low".
I was taught to use slips whenever needed in every plane I've flown and have done so (on final only, not at altitude or in the 3 other legs of the pattern)
Somewhere in the recesses of my brain, I remember hearing of a 737 (? big jet, regardless) driver slipping to get down.
Great thread - I've enjoyed the Lear and jump driver posts especially