Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

This setup makes the wing less efficient overall, but it can reduce drag, weight, and cost compared to using a separate tail. High aspect ratio wings reduce drag and improve performance during climb or slow flight. On the flipside, a decrease in aspect ratio will result in higher drag. Short, wide wings have a low aspect ratio.

Tail 52

Tail Airplanes Weight-Shift-Control Drag 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

This horizontal component of lift is called Induced Drag. Its called induced drag since it only exists as a consequence of lift. If youre generating lift, youre stuck with induced drag as well. Increased Drag Moving air around is hard work! That means that the ailerons are not large enough to counter the roll.

Turbulence 97

Turbulence Lift Drag Runway 97

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

At first glance, ailerons look like ordinary hinged panels on the wings, but don’t be fooledthey’re important for keeping an aircraft both stable and maneuverable. But theres much more to ailerons than just rolling left or right. Or how do modern airplanes reduce dangerous effects like aileron flutter or adverse yaw?

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

WayMan

MAY 25, 2025

While commercial airliners are made up of millions of individual components, the foundation of every airplanewhether a Boeing jet or a training aircraft like a Cessna 172 starts with the same key parts. Ever looked out the window before takeoff and wondered what exactly goes into making that aircraft stay in the air?

Lift 52

Lift Thrust Tail Horizontal Stabilizer 52

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

The CRJ is interesting to fly with a lot of trimming required as it’s a long-bodied jet with a large swing either side of the CG. I mean, all jets I have flown are like that, but this is fairly sensitive to pitch, power, and flap configuration—all requiring lots of trimming. With a lighter corporate jet, that is powerful.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Weather Knot Aileron 105

Pilot's Life Blog

MARCH 15, 2024

Below are other critical pieces of the wings that help give the plane additional lift, reduce drag, or achieve lower speeds in preparation for landing: Ailerons: A French word meaning “fin” or “little wing,” the aileron helps control the airplane’s roll. The engine creates thrust by burning fuel.

Horizontal Stabilizer 52

Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron Air Traffic Control Lift 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

The principle is the same whether the aircraft gets thrust from propellers or jet engines. A propeller forces air backward, while a jet engine ignites a mixture of air and fuel to generate hot gases that eject backward. In jet engines, increasing throttle increases the fuel flow, producing more exhaust gases that can be flung backward.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52