What is the difference between a forward slip and a side slip, and how do you perform each one?


Jim

A sideslip is often used to lose height rapidly & safely when landing in a restricted space. Mainly by light aircraft & gliders operating from small fields. Point the wing at the runway & use opposite rudder to compensate. I'm told that it's impossible to stall from a correctly performed sideslip.

I've never heard of a forward slip.

I was taught the terminology was sideslip. perhaps they're one in the same.

OOHHH great, that clears it up. I've done a sideslip, looks like the forwardslip is for REALLY bad crosswinds.

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Think of it this way: the term "slip"indicates the plane is not going entirely nose-first into the relative wind ( I know it's not that simple, but you get my meaning?). So now to describe slipping along one's ground track (the runway centerline), with the low wing leading the way, the term "forward slip" makes some sense. Likewise, to describe slipping across one's track, just quickly enough to compensate for wind blowing across that track, the term "sideslip" is more appropriate. Anyway, that's how I clarified it for myself; I needed to do that, 'cause these maneuvers are two very different animals! I guess you could call them  the "sideslip" and the "forward sideslip"...
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Doesn't surprise me... reminds me of the US/UK discrepancy between "angle of attack" and "angle of incidence". Let's face it, you people talk funny.    Doesn't matter, as your introduction to slips was probably more practical ("sideslip this way, or this way"...). Probably for the best, 'cuz a demonstration is worth a thousand words... but it's odd that you've never seen the term "forward slip" in a book; I own a few that mention it by that name, i.e. the USDOT manual  shown above. Maybe it's a relatively new distinction in books...

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He's right, beefy. And not only is it beautiful to watch, it's a joy to execute! Very handy sometimes- I've often done it to salvage a high approach, as well as for clearing obstacles.
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I've found the forward slip is much easier to execute without much crosswind... if your nose is pointed to the right into the wind and your downwind (left) wing is low, you may not be able to check that drift very well. As for yawing away from the crosswind: I've never tried it. With a good crosswind, I'll stick with a sideslip or a good ol' crab (coordinated turn into the wind) .

BTW beefhole: Some aircraft are placarded with a prohibition against slipping (side or forward) with full flaps. C172s are one type; supposedly, with more than 10 degrees of flap, you could "blank out" the tail during a slip, which could cause the nose to rise or drop when you don't want it to, possibly encouraging a stall. Some pilots poo-poo that; I have no interest in proving them wrong, but the theory seems sound to me.  Always check first before you slip. And if you're landing on a short runway with obstacles nearby, if you have to go around, you're better off with no more than one notch of flaps anyway- there might be obstacles at the departure end, too...

D'OH! For the record, I knew that. I swear 

LOL. I forget what the aerobatic guys call that but it looks more like a vertical knife-edge manoeuvre. You would need a lot of faith in the engine to do it that close to the ground.

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Strange that. I was born & still live in the original Sussex - 3,000 miles away, give or take a few.
http://www.sussex.co.uk/

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Yes, I believe I told you I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Segalla on a visit to ORA some years ago. We had a nice long chat too. He's a nice man & a great aviator. Fantastic routine in that Cub.