Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Center of Gravity: Used to calculate and balance the aircraft’s center of gravity. 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.

Center of Gravity 52

Center of Gravity Camber Lift Airfoil 52

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

The Weather Vane It mostly comes from the vertical stabilizer (fin) and the sides of the fuselage behind the center of gravity. 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. Elevons work as both elevators and ailerons.

Tail 52

Tail Airplanes Weight-Shift-Control Drag 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Center of Gravity: Used to calculate and balance the aircraft’s center of gravity. 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.

Center of Gravity 59

Center of Gravity Camber Lift Airfoil 59

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Remember that wings, propeller blades, and tail surfaces are airfoil-shaped. Ice build-up on the airframe changes the airflow pattern around these airfoils. Additional Dangers of Ice Accumulation Icing also makes your aircraft heavier and can even change the position of the center of gravity.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

They are designed with a special shape called an airfoil, which encourages passing air to turn and deflect downward. This is why the typical airfoil shape has a curved top and a flat bottom, especially in slower-speed general aviation aircraft. They work in opposite pairs: when one aileron goes up, the other goes down.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

It retained the classic, high-lift Clark Y airfoil, but the span of its four-position semi-Fowler flap span was extended. That required the creation of a redesigned, shorter span aileron that resulted in a markedly increased roll rate. Slow flight requires good rudder work to handle adverse aileron yaw when rolling at all aggressively.

Gross Weight 78

Gross Weight Horizontal Stabilizer Airplanes Rudder 78

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

The airfoil is a Harry Riblett shape, giving modernized flow separation on the leading edge for a soft stall yet with good lift and drag performance. The wing’s dead-smooth surface plus the tight-fitting aileron and flap brackets plus aileron gap seals give the build a professional factory look (left).

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79