Gliding with the flaps up and about 5 knots faster than
"best glide" allows the pilot to "stretch" the glide by a
slight increase in pitch attitude bringing the speed to the
best glide speed. If you fly at best glide you have no
option to stretch the glide since any increase of decrease
in speed will steepen the glide.

Also, if there is any wind, you want minimum sink if flying
downwind and you need a faster speed when flying into the
wind. Extreme example, wind 50 knots, airspeed 50 knots,
flight path vertical with no forward progress.

Flap extension reduces the stalling speed, often only a few
knots, but lift increases as does drag. The airplane will
balloon and slow very fast, the extra distance and altitude
gained is only a few feet, but if all you need is to clear a
5 foot cattle fence or a 10 foot wide ditch, that is a
technique that is useful.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"Bob Moore" wrote in message
. 122...
| Stubby wrote
| The instructor calmly demonstrated how to use flaps just
to
| get a few more feet and complete the landing. It was a
good
| lesson but I think he owes me some new underwear.
|
| Best glide distance with flaps is always less that best
glide
| distance flaps up. Bad demonstration...bad lesson learned.
| The reason that most GA airplanes use flaps is to increase
| drag and steepen the glide angle without increasing the
speed.
|
| Bob Moore