Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

When air flows over the aircraft wing, the shape of the airfoil creates low pressure above the wing and relatively higher pressure below the wing. This horizontal component of lift is called Induced Drag. Its called induced drag since it only exists as a consequence of lift. Increased Drag Moving air around is hard work!

Turbulence 97

Turbulence Lift Drag Runway 97

Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Davis, who had developed a new wing, whose airfoil had a lower drag co-efficiency than other wing designs of the time, and which had already been used on the company’s Model 31/XP4Y Corregidor flying boat. The company had hired a freelance aeronautical engineer, David R. The crew of four was comprised of William B.

Tail 98

Tail Airfoil Drag Ceiling 98

Plane and Pilot

APRIL 14, 2025

The NXT was designed using computer-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD), NASA-derived airfoils, and was tested in the Lockheed wind tunnel to refine the aerodynamics. Obviously, longer runways are required, and the skill level to handle this high-speed taildragger is quite high.

Airfoil 74

Airfoil Final Approach Drag Tail 74

Fear of Landing

MARCH 22, 2024

One of the most revolutionary was the “area rule,” a concept that helped aircraft designers avoid the disruption in airflow and resulting drag caused by the attachment of the wings to the fuselage. The resulting “supercritical airfoil” shape, when integrated with the aircraft wing, significantly improves the aircraft’s cruise efficiency.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Airfoil Drag Airlines 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

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.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

They are designed with a special shape called an airfoil, which encourages passing air to turn and deflect downward. This is why the typical airfoil shape has a curved top and a flat bottom, especially in slower-speed general aviation aircraft. Newtons Third Law tells us that we need to push air downward to produce an upward force.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

For one thing, the F2s fuselage hangs from a completely new wing with two distinct airfoil shapes. An obvious discontinuity leads to a thinner airfoil inboard. Over the course of many landings, I tried everything from wide, stable patterns to tight turns near the runway, and found the airplane willing to work with me.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Rudder Aileron Crosswind 98