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

Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Lift, drag, and handling correlate well with IAS in the lower atmosphere. This type of wing redirects the shockwaves further aft on the wing, reducing drag. For most aircraft with highly cambered wings or thick profiles, airflow accelerates over the top of the wing. This is partly due to the steep rise in drag nearing M cr.

True Airspeed

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

The asymmetry between the top and bottom surface of the wing is called wing camber. The downward movement of the aileron increases the asymmetry and, therefore, the camber while raising the aileron reduces the wing camber. The problem is that the aileron can only be deflected to a point after which the drag becomes significant.

Aileron

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

This principle is fundamental in generating lift, thrust, and maneuverability, allowing aircraft to fly. Thrust (how it moves forward). One is the upper wing surfaces curvature compared to the lower surface, called wing camber. That force is called thrust. Thrust relies on Newtons Third Law as well.

Torque