Question

The flight control cannot be alone handled by the elevator alone at the backside of drag curve.

(a) True

(b) False

This question was addressed to me at a job interview.

This interesting question is from Descent Performance in Aircraft Operations in division Climb and Descent Performance of Aircraft Performance

Answer 1

Right option is (a) True

For explanation I would say: At the back side of the drag curve the rate of change of drag is negative. During this case the flight path gradient cannot be alone handled by the elevator control. If the aircraft is flying with airspeed greater than minimum drag speed then the flight path gradient of descent can be increased by increasing airspeed.