Remove Airfoil Remove Drag Remove Pitot Tube
article thumbnail

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

Pilot Institute

That’s the speed your airspeed indicator shows based on ram air pressure in the pitot tube. 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.

article thumbnail

The Hazards of Aircraft Icing: Explained

Pilot Institute

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. Ice build-up on the airframe changes the airflow pattern around these airfoils.