sideslip

Pluralsideslips

Formssideslips, sideslipping, sideslipped

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A flying move where a pilot makes the plane move sideways instead of turning.

   Like a crab moving sideways while still facing straight ahead.

   The instructor demonstrated a sideslip to bring the plane down between the trees.

   A well-timed sideslip let the pilot line up with the runway in a strong crosswind.

   Similarslip

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A flying move that quickly lowers a plane's height or speed while keeping the same path over the ground.

   Like dragging your feet to slow down while still rolling forward.

   The pilot used a sideslip to drop quickly toward the short grass strip.

   Coming in too high, she put the glider into a sideslip to lose height before the field.

   Similarslip

   Note
3. 3
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To fly a plane sideways by using the controls against each other.

   Like steering a sled sideways to slow it as it slides downhill.

   Pilots learn to sideslip when they need to land on a short runway.

   She sideslipped the biplane neatly over the hedge and onto the field.

   Similarslip

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A flying state where a plane's body points one way but it moves through the air another way.

   Like a boat that points upstream while the current pushes it sideways.

   Gusty winds can leave a small plane in a sideslip even when the pilot wants to fly straight.

   The instruments showed a sideslip as the jet drifted across the windy sky.

   Similarslip

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The angle between the way a plane points and the way it really moves through the air.

   Engineers measured the sideslip during the wind-tunnel test to improve the rudder.

   At that bank angle the sideslip grew large enough to set off a warning.

   Note

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