sideslips

Sideslips are a flight maneuver used in fixed-wing aircraft to create a lateral passage through the air while the aircraft’s nose remains aligned with a different angle to the wind. In a sideslip, the pilot uses a combination of bank into the wind and opposite rudder to prevent the aircraft from turning with the bank, so the fuselage is pointed toward the wind while the flight path is offset sideways. This produces increased drag and a controlled descent without a large increase in forward airspeed.

The maneuver is commonly used in crosswind landings to minimize drift and maintain the intended approach track. By slipping the fuselage into the wind, a pilot can align with the runway centerline while avoiding excessive wing and fuselage drag that would accompany a gross heading change. A sideslip is typically performed with a modest bank into the wind and careful rudder input, then recovered by returning the controls to neutral and re-establishing the desired heading.

Related techniques include the forward slip, which achieves altitude loss without significant bank and is sometimes taught as an alternative method for rapid descent on approach. Sideslips require appropriate training and familiarization with the aircraft’s control responses, and carry risks if performed at too low a speed or near the stall.

In summary, sideslips are a controlled, crosswind handling tool that trades some airspeed for improved tracking and descent control during landing or descent in crosswind conditions.