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Wingtip Vortices and Wake Turbulence

Pilot Institute

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 is called lift. Wingtip vortices are a byproduct of lift. Once the wing stops producing lift, the vortices dissipate instantly. How Are Wingtip Vortices Formed?

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What Is Bernoulli’s Principle? A Simple Guide for Pilots

Pilot Institute

Many explanations on websites, videos, and even some textbooks oversimplify or misrepresent the true mechanics of lift. In reality, lift generation involves both Bernoullis principle and Newtons third law working together. Read on to understand Bernoullis principle and how it relates to lift the right way.

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

Pilot Institute

Why do jet pilots talk about speed in terms of Mach number? Jet aircraft often fly at speeds close to the speed of sound. 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.

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Tailless Aircraft: How Airplanes Fly Without a Tail

Pilot Institute

A tailless airplane is one where everything needed to fly, like lift, control, and stability, is built into the main wing. In level flight, the aircraft is adjusted so that the wingtips dont add lift. Use of Reflex Airfoils Ever notice how many tailless aircraft have wings that curve at the trailing edge?

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The Most Misunderstood Aerodynamic Concepts

Flight Training Central

Baffled by Bernoulli A CFI applicant was asked to teach lift during their practical exam. 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.

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Learning Aeronautical Engineering From Historic Aircraft Designs

Vintage Aviation News

From the first days of flying to the evolution of supersonic jets, historic aircraft offer a road map for comprehending the ideas guiding aeronautical engineering. Often touted as the first successful powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer (1903) clearly shows lift, propulsion, and control.

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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.