Pilots will find aircraft operation much simpler by remembering that the elevator controls airspeed and the throttle controls vertical speed (If you don’t believe this, go flying with another pilot, letting him control the throttle while you control the elevator and see who is able to control the airspeed and who is able to make the aircraft climb or descend).

The angle of climb (climb gradient) depends directly on excess thrust (the thrust force in excess of drag force)—it therefore increases when thrust increases or drag decreases.

Wind does not affect the rate of climb, but does affect the angle of climb over the ground (a headwind increases the climb gradient and a tailwind reduces it)

Flaps for takeoff decrease the takeoff run prior to liftoff, but once in flight the angle of climb may be less because of the higher drag with flaps down.

A heavy airplane requires more lift and therefore produces more drag. Therefore, the thrust and power required for straight and level flight is increased, resulting in a decrease in the excess power and thrust available for climb.

When temperature, humidity, or altitude increase, air density decreases. This causes the engine to produce less power and the propeller to produce less thrust, reducing the angle and rate of climb.

The service ceiling is where rate of climb has fallen to 100 FPM. The absolute ceiling is a slightly higher altitude where rate of climb is zero.

When climbing, pilots should lead the target altitude by 10 percent of the vertical speed shown (500 fpm = 50 foot lead).