Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
Don't know your background, but I'd guess you haven't done a lot of zero-g flying.
Scenario: going straight up (or straight down) at zero g: Power has a significant effect on going fast or slow. (Been there).
Very true. Absolutes are a favorite of those who dwell in theory and formulas, but in fact pitch and power are required in combination to get to a speed.
In cruise, power is the primary means of setting speed, with a very minor variation in pitch. In descent at idle power, pitch becomes primary with power fixed at idle. On a normal glidepath power is used as the primary control with very minor variations in pitch.
The key here is that both AOA and power always work together to give you a speed or desired performance.