Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 11, 2025

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. Its test flights provided data that shaped the designs of later swept-wing military aircraft, including the Century Series of jet fighters.

Drag

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

A tailless aircraft is a fixed-wing airplane without a horizontal stabilizing surface. With this type of aircraft, the functions of longitudinal stability and control are incorporated into the main wing. Directional (yawing) stability from the vertical stabilizer. This type of design is a reflex airfoil.

Tail

Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Why do jet pilots talk about speed in terms of Mach number? Jet aircraft often fly at speeds close to the speed of sound. Making the wing relatively flat on top with a blunter leading edge and more curvature on the bottom gives you a supercritical airfoil. Early jet pilots found this out while exploring high-speed jet flight.

True Airspeed

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 18, 2025

One of the standout aircraft in Drydens research history is the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, a legendary Navy fighter jet that played a key role in two major research programs at the center. These glove modifications served to smooth the wing surface and alter the airfoil to achieve specific pressure distributions.

Horizontal Stabilizer

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

The airfoil is a Harry Riblett shape, giving modernized flow separation on the leading edge for a soft stall yet with good lift and drag performance. A significant investment in heavy, water-jet cut steel tooling means repeatedly accurate wings come off the Composite Creations table.

Airplanes