Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Application of Newton’s Third Law in Aviation When we talk about airplanes, we focus primarily on two forces: Lift (how the aircraft stays aloft). They are designed with a special shape called an airfoil, which encourages passing air to turn and deflect downward. This has only been possible by understanding the laws of physics.

Torque

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 2, 2025

In 1954 this photo of two swept wing airplanes was taken on the ramp of NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station. The drag chute was used on landings to help brake the airplane’s speed. The Douglas D-558-ll is a research aircraft, while the Boeing B-47A Stratojet is a production bomber and very different in size.

Gross Weight

Vintage Aviation News

JUNE 18, 2025

However, Hughes was never one to rest on his laurels, and as he surveyed the airplanes parked in Miami, he told his chief aeronautical engineer, Glenn Odekirk, “Hell, Glenn, there isn’t a decent plane in the lot.” ” Odekirk replied, “Howard, you’ll never be satisfied until you build your own.”

Cockpit

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

A variable-sweep wing, also called a “swing wing,” is a type of airplane wing that can change its angle while flying. As you reach high speeds, especially near or above the speed of sound, you can then sweep the wings back to reduce drag. They delay the formation of shock waves that cause wave drag.

Weight-Shift-Control

Flight Training Central

JUNE 30, 2025

When he created his principle of differential pressure, he had no thoughts about its future application to the development of airfoils and lift production. With some imagination this looks a bit like the top of an airfoil. In the case of our airfoil, we’ll assume that the fluid is air and that the air is relatively still.

Airfoil

Flight Training Central

MAY 7, 2024

As much as it seems sometimes that airplanes fly by magic, it’s important for every pilot to understand at least the basic fundamentals of aerodynamics. The term 'angle of attack' is defined as the angle between the airplane's longitudinal axis and that of the air striking the airfoil. What force makes an airplane turn?

Longitudinal Axis

Flying Magazine

MAY 30, 2025

The Bleriot XI that was the first airplane to cross the English Channel was a monoplane, as was the first really effective fighter of World War I, the Fokker Eindecker. When engines were weak and it was hard to get into the air at all, multiple wings were an obvious way to add lift without making the airplane much bigger.

Drag

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 7, 2024

The unique cylindrical design of the fuselage allowed for a streamlined profile and reduced drag, increasing the overall efficiency. During these years, he concluded that the inner surface of the venturi tube needed an airfoil shape to achieve the greatest efficiency. The Stipa-Caproni in flight.

Airfoil

Learn to Fly

JULY 11, 2024

An airplane will, however, always stall at the same angle of attack, called the critical angle of attack. An angle of attack (AOA) indicator can determine the aerodynamic health of the airfoil (wing). Additionally, these devices can give a visual rendering of the energy management state of the airplane.

Airfoil

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Ice can affect everything from how the airplane flies to the engines staying functional. And ice doesn’t just make things slippery, it messes with the airflow over the wings, cuts down on lift, and ramps up drag. Remember that wings, propeller blades, and tail surfaces are airfoil-shaped.

Pitot Tube

Air Facts

JULY 22, 2024

One was at the controls of an airplane alongside a CFI, and was preceded by flight planning and a preflight inspection. The Four Forces of Flight (Lift, Thrust, Drag & Gravity) obey Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. The kids learned that the precision required to fabricate airplane parts was on par with knee surgery.

Lift

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

Confirm the gauges reflect full power and feel the airplane quiver in anticipation. Can an airplane feel excitement? FLYING Magazine flew the Aviat Husky thanks to one mans desire to build and sell a serious utility backcountry airplane. He wanted to expand his companys offerings by selling a backcountry airplane.

Gross Weight

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Since then, the team has advanced the airplane into a kit, one made out of carbon fiber and incorporating more than 1400 hours of the prototype’s operation. But now they are, and as no other Experimental—or certified airplane for that matter—can do what the Gweduck can, it’s time to take a good look at the program.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

A strong or soft market overall can dramatically influence any given airplanes success, quite apart from how it looks or performs. Plus, you know, the airplanes were pretty OK. Literally overnight we got eight semitruck loads of equipment outtooling, molds, and even airplanes. General aviation is driven by myriad forces.

Rudder