Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Wing Control: Flaps, slats, and ailerons change the chord line, impacting lift and control. In general, the chord line is used as an easy-to-understand reference when referring to the properties of a wing or airfoil. The mean camber line is drawn halfway between the upper and lower surfaces. What Is the Chord Line in Aviation?

Center of Gravity

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

Use of Reflex Airfoils Ever notice how many tailless aircraft have wings that curve at the trailing edge? This type of design is a reflex airfoil. The reflexed shape of the airfoil usually causes a positive (nose-up) pitching moment coefficient at its aerodynamic center. They combine the functions of elevators and ailerons.

Tail

Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Making the wing relatively flat on top with a blunter leading edge and more curvature on the bottom gives you a supercritical airfoil. For most aircraft with highly cambered wings or thick profiles, airflow accelerates over the top of the wing. Even the wing cross-section can be designed to redirect shock waves.

True Airspeed

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

They are designed with a special shape called an airfoil, which encourages passing air to turn and deflect downward. One is the upper wing surfaces curvature compared to the lower surface, called wing camber. High camber generally promotes more airflow deflection, thanks to something called Bernoullis Principle.

Torque

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Wing Control: Flaps, slats, and ailerons change the chord line, impacting lift and control. In general, the chord line is used as an easy-to-understand reference when referring to the properties of a wing or airfoil. The mean camber line is drawn halfway between the upper and lower surfaces. What Is the Chord Line in Aviation?

Center of Gravity