Remove Airfoil Remove Drag Remove Flight Plan
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Flight Test Files: The Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket – Chasing Mach 2

Vintage Aviation News

They flew a total of 313 missions, collecting invaluable data on pitch stability, lift, drag, and buffeting in transonic and supersonic flight. The jet- and rocket-powered aircraft exceeded expectations, performing better than predicted in high-speed wind tunnel testsparticularly in drag performance above Mach 0.85.

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Mach Number Explained: What It Is and Why Pilots Use It

Pilot Institute

Lift, drag, and handling correlate well with IAS in the lower atmosphere. Making the wing relatively flat on top with a blunter leading edge and more curvature on the bottom gives you a supercritical airfoil. This type of wing redirects the shockwaves further aft on the wing, reducing drag. roughly) up to about Mach 5.0.

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Passing the torch

Air Facts

One was at the controls of an airplane alongside a CFI, and was preceded by flight planning and a preflight inspection. The participants also received a post flight debriefing. Another hour was flying a flight simulator where learning was easier without the flight deck noise and the need to look out for traffic.