Aileron Drag Turbulence 
Pilot Institute
MARCH 28, 2025
By far the strongest component of wake turbulence is the swirling air generated at the tips of the aircrafts wings. Key Takeaways Wingtip vortices, not engine exhaust, create the strongest wake turbulence. Wake turbulence can cause severe roll and structural damage to smaller aircraft. How Are Wingtip Vortices Formed?
Plane and Pilot
JULY 2, 2025
This climb speed is determined by minimizing the two sources of drag acting against the airplane. If speed is too low, meaning angle of attack is too high, induced drag builds up, as the wing is working extra hard to make lift. If speed is too fast, parasite drag becomes excessive, created from the increased wind resistance.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
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. These control surfaces dictate the aircraft’s roll, and this allows it to bank smoothly through turns or even recover from turbulence. What Is an Aileron?
Pilot Institute
JULY 11, 2025
Lift, drag, and handling correlate well with IAS in the lower atmosphere. This type of wing redirects the shockwaves further aft on the wing, reducing drag. The result is a region of separated, turbulent flow behind the shock. Ailerons can suffer from a phenomenon called “aileron buzz” or control reversal at high Mach.
Flying Magazine
JULY 22, 2025
We consider that reassuring when the weather becomes turbulent. When that big Hartzell prop flattens out, it produces a lot of drag that lets one nicely fine-tune speed and rate of descent. However, that also means, as King noted, the E1000 AX is “built like a tank.” Once we canceled IFR, we spent some time hand-flying the AX.
Pilot Institute
MAY 8, 2025
During certain phases of flight, you may retract the landing gear to reduce drag and improve climb performance. A gust of unexpected turbulence might even throw you off. Severe Weather Conditions Turbulence, icing, or extreme cold can all affect gear operations. Keep the wings level and use rudder and ailerons to stay aligned.
Flying Magazine
APRIL 26, 2024
The small aileron “tabs” were not doing a great job in crosswind ability. As is often the case with swept-wing jets, sometimes extra drag is required beyond gear and flaps. BBJ-700 from PMDG showcasing the master quality and awesome terrain that LOWI provides, complete with snow-squall weather and violent turbulence.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Let's personalize your content