Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 1, 2025

Studying historical aircraft helps students understand the development of flight and learn from early engineers about problems of lift, propulsion, stability, and material constraints. Often touted as the first successful powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer (1903) clearly shows lift, propulsion, and control.

Drag 52

Drag Lift Jet Stability 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 13, 2025

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.

Pilot 52

Pilot Lift Camber Airfoil 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 30, 2025

The Bleriot XI that was the first airplane to cross the English Channel was a monoplane, as was the first really effective fighter of World War I, the Fokker Eindecker. 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 101

Drag Airfoil Lift Airplanes 101

WayMan

MAY 25, 2025

The Main Parts of an Airplane While aircraft come in many designs and sizes, they all share several core components. Wings: The Source of Lift The wings are what make fixed-wing flight possible. As air moves over the curved top surface of the wing and the flatter bottom, lift is generated, allowing the plane to rise.

Lift 52

Lift Thrust Tail Horizontal Stabilizer 52

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. The term 'angle of attack' is defined as the angle between the airplane's longitudinal axis and that of the air striking the airfoil. What force makes an airplane turn?

Gross Weight 98

Gross Weight Longitudinal Axis Airfoil Lift 98

Simple Flying

MAY 29, 2024

One of the design differences between the two manufacturers is the types of wingtip devices used on airplanes. These are specialized enhancements at the tips of wings to minimize lift-induced drag and increase fuel efficiency in flight. Can you tell the difference between Airbus and Boeing aircraft?

Drag 105

Drag Lift Airplanes 105

Plane and Pilot

APRIL 23, 2025

Theres something about the feeling of flying a retractable-gear airplane. Feeling that gentle nudge of acceleration as you retract the gear during climb-out feels great, as does knowing youve got none of that drag slowing you down and increasing fuel burnin cruise. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

Transponder 55

Transponder Drag Airplanes Knot 55

AV Web

DECEMBER 3, 2024

A pair of aerodynamic researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have created a raptor-inspired drone that uses its tail feathers to control bank, rather than wingtip feathers mimicked by ailerons on airplanes.

Tail 105

Tail Aileron Drag Lift 105

Air Facts

MAY 14, 2025

As he lifted off from a touch-and-go, I shook the control stick and said, Ive got the jet. He shook the stick in reply: Youve got the airplane. The G-loading and added drag slowed us below the gear limit speed (240 KIAS). I lowered the nose, pushed the throttles to 100%, lifted off again, and cleaned up the airplane.

AGL 52

AGL Threshold Final Approach Crosswind 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

The faster an aircraft goes, the more lift it generates. Lift is the upward force that keeps you in the air. If airspeed is too slow, the aircraft could lose lift and stall. Meanwhile, lower altitudes demand that you be extra careful with airspeed to maintain lift and prevent stalls. miles per hour. Dangerous mistake.

True Airspeed 52

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Altimeter Lift 52

Flight Training Central

MAY 6, 2024

Low wing airplanes were designed by the very devil himself. You don’t have to hang around airports, airplanes or pilots very long until someone will crank up the high wing versus low wing debate. You don’t have to hang around airports, airplanes or pilots very long until someone will crank up the high wing versus low wing debate.

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Lift Drag Airplanes Ground Effect 97

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 2, 2025

In 1954 this photo of two swept wing airplanes was taken on the ramp of NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station. 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.

Gross Weight 60

Gross Weight Airfoil Drag Stability 60

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

This can cause you to lose lift. Remember Bernoulli’s Theorem and how lift is created. The loss of lift causes the aircraft to stall and lose altitude. When the aircraft is in a high-drag configuration, a stall at a low altitude can be quite dangerous. Without a quick reaction, it can lead to a dangerous situation.

Descent 52

Descent Approach AGL Lift 52

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

The airplane rudder is one of the most misunderstood of the primary flight controls. The yaw of the airplane rotates around its vertical axis. The rudder is a movable flight control which is mounted on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer on the back of the airplane. Where is the rudder? Why is this?

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 8, 2024

By Josh Page, CFI Whenever I’m in an airplane as a passenger or a pilot , I still marvel that this heavy machine can get off the ground, soar through the sky, and land at my destination. Understanding these four forces of flight will help you know how your airplane can actually take off and fly. It’s simply amazing. Simple as that!

Drag 52

Drag Lift Thrust Airplanes 52

CFI Academy

MAY 12, 2025

Source: FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 4 Slow Flight Teaching slow flight effectively requires more than rote maneuvers. During slow flight, the aircraft requires a higher nose-up attitude to counteract reduced lift at slower speeds. Why it works: Over-controlling is one of the most common mistakes in slow flight.

Drag 52

Drag Stability Approach Lift 52

CFI Academy

MAY 12, 2025

Source: FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 4 – “Slow Flight” Teaching slow flight effectively requires more than rote maneuvers. During slow flight, the aircraft requires a higher nose-up attitude to counteract reduced lift at slower speeds. Why it works: Over-controlling is one of the most common mistakes in slow flight.

Drag 52

Drag Approach Stability Lift 52

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

With carrier aviation still in its infancy, airships could fly further than many airplanes of the day and remain in the air for days on end without the need to land to refuel and replenish their supplies. While flying high over West Texas, the sun heated and expanded the helium lifting gas, forcing the Macon to rise up.

Lift 56

Lift Tail Stability Hangar 56

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

The lift and drag imbalance between the left and right ailerons creates adverse yaw. Adverse yaw is an undesirable side effect of lift production, resulting in an uncoordinated, slipping turn. This creates more lift and drag on the upgoing wing (left) and less on the downgoing (right) wing. What is Adverse Yaw?

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Aileron Drag Rudder Lift 52

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 7, 2024

The unique cylindrical design of the fuselage allowed for a streamlined profile and reduced drag, increasing the overall efficiency. Moreover, even the airfoil shape of the duct interior proved to be an effectual idea as it provided the aircraft with additional lift, a very low landing speed of 42mph, and a higher rate of climb.

Airfoil 98

Airfoil Rudder Drag Stability 98

AV Web

OCTOBER 3, 2024

In my mind, I knew that other airplanes had more capacity – my friend Kim and her husband Nick had just flown a few missions in their DeHavilland Beaver, and a trio of C-47s had made runs to some of the communities in need. As the volunteers emptied my airplane, my hopes of sticking around for a few days of missions faded.

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Airplanes Drag Cargo Payload 98

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

A smaller bank angle will result in more lift, while an increased bank angle will reduce the lift. To learn all the maneuvers you’ll need to perform on your practical test, check out Airplane Maneuvers Mastery for more. As an aircraft banks, lift is divided into horizontal and vertical components. What Are Steep Turns?

Lift 52

Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

But, as you near the runway, the airplane starts to float. Your wings don’t create as much drag as they would at higher altitudes, which gives you extra lift. Key Takeaways Ground effect increases an aircraft’s lift and decreases drag. You feel in control. It’s not magic—it’s ground effect.

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Ground Effect Drag Lift AGL 52

Pilot's Life Blog

MARCH 15, 2024

Learn the basic structure of an airplane while in flight school at Leopard Aviation. From the navigation display to the wing structure, understanding all segments of an airplane is crucial in the aviation industry. This long, metal tube connects all the main components of an airplane.

Horizontal Stabilizer 52

Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron Air Traffic Control Lift 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

If you dream of flying small airplanes on weekends or piloting commercial airliners with hundreds of passengers, you need certain pilot licenses to reach your aviation goals. During training, you’ll learn about Newton’s laws of motion, Bernoulli’s principle, and aerodynamic forces, including lift, thrust, and drag.

Pilot 52

Pilot Weather Checkride Flight Computer 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Proper AOA management affects lift generation and stall prevention. It is one of the main factors affecting lift, and airplanes need a constant source of lift to fly. As we stated a little while ago, understanding the angle of attack is fundamental to understanding aerodynamics and how lift is generated.

Lift 52

Lift Turbulence Drag Pilot 52

Inspire

AUGUST 12, 2020

Adverse yaw is the tendency for the nose of an airplane to yaw in the opposite direction when an airplane banks its wings for a turn. The increased lift of the raised wing results in increased drag, which causes the airplane to yaw or swing toward the side or direction of the raised wing.

Drag 40

Drag Lift Airplanes Hangar 40

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

Sometimes we would beach the airplane on a sandy shoreline for a brief period while we reviewed our maneuvers, grabbed a bite to eat, and simply enjoyed the experience. He had to drag out his tent and spend the night waiting for the next high tide to release him from his predicament. Back to the shore of Heckman Lake.

Airplanes 85

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 85

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

Sometimes we would beach the airplane on a sandy shoreline for a brief period while we reviewed our maneuvers, grabbed a bite to eat, and simply enjoyed the experience. He had to drag out his tent and spend the night waiting for the next high tide to release him from his predicament. Back to the shore of Heckman Lake.

Airplanes 83

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 83

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Or how do modern airplanes reduce dangerous effects like aileron flutter or adverse yaw? Key Takeaways Ailerons control the aircrafts roll by adjusting lift on each wing. The aircrafts wing is able to generate lift due to its shape. Why does this increase the lift? How Do Ailerons Work?

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

The higher speed creates extra lift, causing the airplane to bank further into the turn. The pilot’s job is to prevent the airplane from banking too quickly or too far. The aileron on the right wing deflects down, increasing the camber and creating more lift. The lift imbalance causes the roll.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Ice can affect everything from how the airplane flies to the engines staying functional. And ice doesn’t just make things slippery, it messes with the airflow over the wings, cuts down on lift, and ramps up drag. This leads to a serious loss of lift and an increase in drag.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Vintage Aviation News

JULY 23, 2024

This is consistent with the theory, as a displaced torpedo would have bulged the bomb bay doors, which wind resistance could then have pealed back – leading to a rapid increase in drag preventing the aircraft from gaining altitude at sufficient speed.

Cockpit 130

Cockpit Drag Runway Pilot 130

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Lift : The aerodynamic force generated due to airflow over the wings. Drag : The aerodynamic force opposing the aircraft’s forward motion. The aircraft’s deceleration reduces the airflow over the wings, which reduces lift. When the lift force is less than the force of gravity, the aircraft descends. Why does this happen?

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag Checkride 52

Learn to Fly

JULY 11, 2024

An airplane will, however, always stall at the same angle of attack, called the critical angle of attack. This flight instrument measures the angle between an aircraft’s wing and the relative wind, providing a visual representation of how much lift the wings are generating at a given airspeed or angle of bank.

Airfoil 40

Airfoil Center of Gravity Density Altitude Drag 40

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

However, there was still a gap in urban travel since airplanes needed long runways, and helicopters, while versatile, were slow and limited in range. The search for an aircraft that could take off and land anywhere like a helicopter, but could fly fast and far like a airplane was undertaken.

Runway 56

Runway Drag Knot Thrust 56

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. This does two things: it keeps the load on the wings and increases drag. The sudden loss of lift can cause the wheels to dig into the ground. But with a soft field landing, you want to maintain lift and keep the aircraft’s weight on the wings.

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NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52