Northstar VFR

MAY 26, 2025

When deployed, they increase the wings lift and drag, allowing the airplane to fly safely at slower speeds. When flaps extend, they increase the camber (curvature) of the wing, which boosts the amount of lift the wing generates. At the same time, flaps create extra drag, which helps slow the airplane down. How Do Flaps Work?

Camber 52

Camber Drag Lift Airplanes 52

Simple Flying

JUNE 14, 2025

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. Hinged panels at the wing’s trailing and leading edges transform a sleek airfoil into a low-speed lift sail.

Camber 95

Camber Airfoil Lift Drag 95

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

This setup makes the wing less efficient overall, but it can reduce drag, weight, and cost compared to using a separate tail. High aspect ratio wings reduce drag and improve performance during climb or slow flight. On the flipside, a decrease in aspect ratio will result in higher drag. Short, wide wings have a low aspect ratio.

Tail 52

Tail Airplanes Weight-Shift-Control Drag 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

From simple mechanical linkages in small aircraft to high-tech fly-by-wire systems in airliners, ailerons have evolved with aviation itself. The asymmetry between the top and bottom surface of the wing is called wing camber. The problem is that the aileron can only be deflected to a point after which the drag becomes significant.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90