Which statement best describes the difference between an aerodynamic slip and a skid?

Which statement best describes the difference between an aerodynamic slip and a skid?

• A. A slip is a cross-controlled flight where the aircraft's flight path is not aligned with the longitudinal axis; a skid is an uncoordinated turn where the ball moves outside the turn.
• B. A slip is a normal coordinated descent; a skid is a permitted landing maneuver.
• C. A slip increases bank angle automatically; a skid reduces airspeed.
• D. A slip occurs only in instrument meteorology conditions; a skid only in VFR.

Answer: (A)

Both terms describe uncoordinated flight, but they refer to different ways the aircraft can drift relative to its actual path. In a slip, you intentionally cross-control by bank opposite to the direction you’re moving and use opposite rudder so the airplane’s nose points away from its flight path. The result is a flight path that isn’t aligned with the fuselage, producing a sideslip that increases drag and helps with descent or crosswind alignment. In a skid, the turn is uncoordinated because the rate of turn is too great for the control inputs—the ball slides toward the outside of the turn, signaling poor coordination. This is not about the path being misaligned like a slip, but about an overbanked, out-of-balance turn where coordination is lost. This distinction matters because slips are used to manage descent and crosswind situations with coordinated control inputs, while skids indicate an over-whelmed or improperly coordinated turn that can lead to loss of control if not corrected. The other descriptions mix up these coordination concepts or describe conditions that don’t define slips or skids.

Both terms describe uncoordinated flight, but they refer to different ways the aircraft can drift relative to its actual path. In a slip, you intentionally cross-control by bank opposite to the direction you’re moving and use opposite rudder so the airplane’s nose points away from its flight path. The result is a flight path that isn’t aligned with the fuselage, producing a sideslip that increases drag and helps with descent or crosswind alignment.

In a skid, the turn is uncoordinated because the rate of turn is too great for the control inputs—the ball slides toward the outside of the turn, signaling poor coordination. This is not about the path being misaligned like a slip, but about an overbanked, out-of-balance turn where coordination is lost.

This distinction matters because slips are used to manage descent and crosswind situations with coordinated control inputs, while skids indicate an over-whelmed or improperly coordinated turn that can lead to loss of control if not corrected. The other descriptions mix up these coordination concepts or describe conditions that don’t define slips or skids.