Remove Airfoil Remove Stability Remove Turbulence
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Learning Aeronautical Engineering From Historic Aircraft Designs

Vintage Aviation News

Studying historical aircraft helps students understand the development of flight and learn from early engineers about problems of lift, propulsion, stability, and material constraints. With the right support, future engineers can deepen their understanding of aviation history while developing the skills necessary for innovation.

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Flight Test Files: Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Vintage Aviation News

The F-14s unique roll control setup, which relies on differential horizontal stabilizers and spoilers rather than traditional ailerons, provided effective control at various speeds but also introduced side forces that could contribute to spin entry. This configuration, while beneficial for carrier takeoffs, added complexity to spin behavior.

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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. Does turbulence affect helicopters differently? The best way to decide?

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What Is a Variable-Sweep Wing? How Swing Wings Work

Pilot Institute

The improved stability at high speeds also contributes to steady flight, and overall better performance. On top of that, the hinge points of the swing-wing mechanism can become sources of turbulence and flow separation. One such challenge is gap sealing. The movement of the wings creates gaps that can disturb airflow.

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We Fly: Aviat Husky

Flying Magazine

It retained the classic, high-lift Clark Y airfoil, but the span of its four-position semi-Fowler flap span was extended. The Garmin glass lived up to its reputation for being easy to program, and the autopilot did as it was programmed, even in turbulence, with appropriate rudder input. In 2005, a new wing became standard.