G. Sylvester wrote

chris wrote:
I dunno much about flying jets, but I remember someone once told me
on a jet it's the other way around to a light a/c.. In a Cessna you
use power to control rate of descent and attitude to control speed
but on a jet it's power = speed and attitude = rate of descent.

I remember hearing the same thing. Now having done my IFR license, you
always stay on the forward part of the curve where power = airspeed
and attitude = descent rate

Well....you got that wrong! I post the following paragraph quoted from
"Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators".

The above relationship states that, for a given weight airplane, the
rate of climb (RC) depends on the difference between the power available
and the power required (Pa- Pr), or excess power. Of course, when the
excess power is zero (Pa-Pr=0 or Pa = Pr), the rate of climb is zero and
the airplane is in steady level flight. When the power available is
greater than the power required, the excess power will allow a rate of
climb specific to the magnitude of excess power. Also, when the power
available is less than the power required, the deficiency of power
produces a rate of descent. This relationship provides the basis for an
important axiom of flight technique: "For the conditions of steady
flight, the power setting is the primary control of rate of climb or
descent".

And, of course.....In steady flight (climbs, descents, and level
flight), Angle of Attack always equals Airspeed.

Bob Moore
ATP B-707 B-727
CFII
PanAm (retired)