article thumbnail

Tailless Aircraft: How Airplanes Fly Without a Tail

Pilot Institute

Have you ever seen an airplane with no tail and no vertical fin, but with just a sleek wing? They prove that with the right aerodynamic tricks, you dont need a tail to fly. A tailless aircraft may still have a fuselage and a vertical tail (fin and rudder). How does the tail do this? Ever wondered how it stays balanced?

Tail 52
article thumbnail

Examining over 100 years of flight automation and the history of the autopilot

Aerotime

His system would provide an aircraft with automatic stability and control mechanism, through the control of the ailerons, stabilizer, and tail rudder through the use of a set of simple gyroscopes. Sperrys innovation was presented at the competition installed in a Curtiss C-2 single-engine airplane with a hull-shaped lower fuselage.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

The Ercoupe

Plane and Pilot

Many years ago, while working my way through college pumping avgas at the local airport, I discovered that one of our university deans owned a diminutive two-seat, twin-tailed airplanean Ercoupe. ERCO), Weick refined the design into the low-wing, twin-tailed beauty whose distinctive looks are unmistakable.

Rudder 105
article thumbnail

Inside Elixir Aircraft: the startup using sailing tech to change light aviation  

Aerotime

During the tour, Champenois pointed out that each aircraft is made of only nine parts: the wing, the fuselage, the canopy frame, two flaps, two ailerons, a radar, and a horizontal tail.

Aileron 273
article thumbnail

Demonstration Stalls

CFI Academy

Heres what they are and what you need to understand about each: Crossed-Control Stall What It Is: This stall occurs when the aircraft is in a skidding turn, typically with ailerons applied in one direction and rudder in the opposite direction (e.g., left aileron, right rudder). How to Perform: Enter a turn (e.g.,

Aileron 96
article thumbnail

Everything You Need To Know About Ailerons

Pilot Institute

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
article thumbnail

Game On!

Plane and Pilot

After a few seconds, Ill lift the tail and then add full power. Within a couple of seconds, I could feel that the tail was ready to come up, so I added just a touch of forward stick pressure. Within a couple of seconds, I could feel that the tail was ready to come up, so I added just a touch of forward stick pressure.

Knot 111