Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Wing Control: Flaps, slats, and ailerons change the chord line, impacting lift and control. In general, the chord line is used as an easy-to-understand reference when referring to the properties of a wing or airfoil. Basically, the mean camber line is meant to indicate the midpoint between the top and bottom surfaces of the airfoil.

Center of Gravity

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 11, 2025

These stories shine a light on the aircraft and test pilots that pushed the limits of aeronautical knowledge, many of them flying out of the legendary Dryden Flight Research Center (now Armstrong Flight Research Center) at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Research pilot John McKay flew it once in this form on September 17, 1956.

Drag

Professional Pilot

JULY 7, 2025

A lighting the runway with under 1000 ft to go, the pilots breathed a sigh of relief. However, they underestimated their climb from the lift off point and, with the sluggish rate of climb, the saddle ridge across the departure path suddenly became a dangerous obstacle they might not clear. C per km (–3.6 °F/1000

Density Altitude

Flight Training Central

MARCH 3, 2025

Depending on design, airfoils used in general aviation, stall at angles of attack between 16 to 18 degrees. If the bank increases, the loss of vertical lift component tends to lower the nose. If simulating a maximum performance takeoff, the flaps should be extended if called for in the pilot’s operating handbook.

Rudder

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Lift is the force that aircraft use to counter gravity. Newton’s Third Law is one of the key laws of physics that explains lift. Lets see what Newtons Third Law is, and why we need it to understand lift. This principle is fundamental in generating lift, thrust, and maneuverability, allowing aircraft to fly.

Torque

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 2, 2025

Although the B-47A appeared structurally sound upon arrival, flight testing revealed notable shortcomingsparticularly buffeting issues that limited both its top speed and achievable lift. Accommodations were for two pilots and a navigator, with the aircraft being instrumented for aeroelasticity studies. NASA Photo

Gross Weight

Flying Magazine

JULY 26, 2025

The FAA this month quietly published long-awaited guidance for the certification of powered-lift aircraft—the first new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s. For lift during horizontal flight, they use rigid airfoils such as wings. b) regulations for special class aircraft.

Lift

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

Key Takeaways Variable-sweep wings adjust in flight to balance lift and speed. Straight Wings and Swept Wings At low speeds, like when you’re taking off or landing, you can extend the wings straight out to produce more lift. This is because straight wings have a higher aspect ratio, which also increases the coefficient of lift.

Weight-Shift-Control

Flight Training Central

MAY 7, 2024

As much as it seems sometimes that airplanes fly by magic, it’s important for every pilot to understand at least the basic fundamentals of aerodynamics. Understanding these concepts will create a smoother and safer pilot. Air traveling faster over the curved upper surface of an airfoil causes lower pressure on the top surface.

Longitudinal Axis

Flying Magazine

MAY 30, 2025

That combination of requirements was incompatible with very thin wings, and in the early days of aviation it was widelythough not universallybelieved that thin birdlike airfoils were best. When engines were weak and it was hard to get into the air at all, multiple wings were an obvious way to add lift without making the airplane much bigger.

Drag

Flying Magazine

MAY 1, 2024

Otto Lilienthal did it by shifting his weight, but for the much larger Wright Flyer the solution was to make one wing produce more lift than the other by twisting them in opposite directions. In other words, the lift change that results from deflecting the aileron is not confined to the aileron itself. for fighters.

Aileron

Simple Flying

JUNE 14, 2025

Hinged panels at the wing’s trailing and leading edges transform a sleek airfoil into a low-speed lift sail. Increasing camber, flaps propel an airliner to lift off at lower speeds, trading a little drag for a lot of lift. One of the most influential cockpit levers on a jet’s take-off is the flap handle.

Camber

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 7, 2024

During these years, he concluded that the inner surface of the venturi tube needed an airfoil shape to achieve the greatest efficiency. The duct, as predicted by Stipa, had a profile similar to that of the airfoil, with a fairly small rudder and elevators mounted on the trailing edge of the duct.

Airfoil

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

This organization, composed of pilots, scientists, engineers, technicians, mechanics, and administrative professionals, has been and continues to be a leader in the field of advanced aeronautics. The lakebed surface also features a Compass Rose, providing pilots with an instant compass heading. long and thin).

Airfoil

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Wing Control: Flaps, slats, and ailerons change the chord line, impacting lift and control. In general, the chord line is used as an easy-to-understand reference when referring to the properties of a wing or airfoil. Basically, the mean camber line is meant to indicate the midpoint between the top and bottom surfaces of the airfoil.

Center of Gravity

Pilot's Life Blog

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Many aspiring pilots wonder whether flying a helicopter is harder than flying a plane. Understanding these differences helps pilots choose the right training path. Whether youre exploring what is an instrument proficiency check or considering advanced training, we ensure every pilot is confident in their journey.

Torque

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Storo lifted the British fighter into the air for the first time on June 28, 2022, from Tillamook Municipal Airport near his home. ” On takeoff and landing, the pilot’s seat is adjusted to the upward limit of travel. At that point, you’re simply looking down the runway, and then it lifts off. 19 Squadron. 6, 1941).

Crosswind

Learn to Fly

JULY 11, 2024

What can pilots do to prevent this? During your student pilot training you are taught to rely on speed and the 1G stall speed to avoid stalls. An angle of attack (AOA) indicator can determine the aerodynamic health of the airfoil (wing). Without an AOA indicator, the AOA is invisible to pilots.

Airfoil

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

Fear of Landing

MARCH 22, 2024

Today, aircraft are equipped with forward-looking sensors that alert pilots to wind shear hazards. The resulting “supercritical airfoil” shape, when integrated with the aircraft wing, significantly improves the aircraft’s cruise efficiency. Chevrons are being implemented on many of today’s aircraft, including the new Boeing 787.

Wind Shear

Air Facts

JULY 22, 2024

Passing the torch Air Facts Journal Pilots are life-long learners, and, per the Feynman Learning Technique, the best way to learn anything is to teach it to someone else. With that in mind, plus a desire to pass the torch to a new generation, some old pilots developed a week-long aviation camp for youth, ages 14-18.

Lift

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2025

Adventurous aerobatic pilot Frank Christensen, owner of Christen Industries, which built the Pitts Special series and the Christen Eagle II aerobatic biplane kit, watched as biplane sales fell during the early 1980s. In 1995, businessman, backcountry, and aerobatic pilot Stu Horn bought the company and changed its name to Aviat Aircraft Inc.

Gross Weight

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

When spelled geoduck it represents a grotesque, oversized mollusk, or clam to we pilot simpletons. Much depends on the aircraft’s weight, pilot skill and, surprisingly, “how much abuse you want to experience. Checking the oil is the main attraction to the pilot. The airplane will handle more than you want to.”

Airplanes