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The Role of Newton’s Third Law in Aviation

Pilot Institute

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.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell P-63 Kingcobra

Vintage Aviation News

It featured a laminar flow airfoil, the Allison V-1710 was fitted with a second supercharger, a four-bladed propeller was installed, and the nose cowlings to access the airplane’s 37mm gun and two Browing M2.50 However, the US Army Air Force was still interested in an improved version of the P-39, and so a new design was drafted.

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Flight Test Files: B-47A Stratojet

Vintage Aviation News

Langley was particularly focused on structural loads, while Ames concentrated on dynamic stability. However, neither center had runways long enough to accommodate the B-47, so the aircraft was assigned to NACAs High-Speed Flight Research Station at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

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FAA Releases Powered-Lift Certification Guidance

Flying Magazine

For lift during horizontal flight, they use rigid airfoils such as wings. In other words, the guidance shortens the runway to certification by cutting through red tape. Another new provision creates stricter aeromechanical stability standards, requiring the elimination of ground and air resonance that can cause loss of control.

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Flight Test Files: B-47A Stratojet

Vintage Aviation News

NACA laboratories had an interest in B-47A NACA 150; Langley Memorial Laboratory wished to study the impact of aeroelasticity upon structural loads and Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, the impact of aeroelasticity upon dynamic stability. Operation of the aircraft from either Center was not practical because of runway length.

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Is Flying a Helicopter Harder Than Flying a Plane? A Comparative Analysis

Pilot's Life Blog

The wings are designed with an airfoil shape, curved on the top and flatter on the bottom, creating a pressure difference when air flows over them. Each rotor blade acts as an airfoil, and as it rotates, it moves air over its surface, generating lift. This pressure difference produces lift, allowing the aircraft to ascend.

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Recognising NASA Technology on Modern Airliners

Fear of Landing

Supercritical Airfoil During the 1960s and 1970s, NASA scientist Richard Whitcomb led a team of researchers to develop and test a series of unique geometric shapes of airfoils or wing sections that could be applied to subsonic transports to improve lift and reduce drag. The original PDF is available for download on NASA’s website.