Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

A tailless aircraft is a fixed-wing airplane without a horizontal stabilizing surface. With this type of aircraft, the functions of longitudinal stability and control are incorporated into the main wing. A tailless airplane is one where everything needed to fly, like lift, control, and stability, is built into the main wing.

Tail 52

Tail Airplanes Weight-Shift-Control Drag 52

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Air Force and NASA to explore using vectored thrust to transition from vertical and horizontal takeoffs to achieve level flight before making a vertical landing. It was also the first VTOL aircraft to use a jet thrust diverter system for vertical lift. He compared its glide rate to that of a Cessna 206.

Thrust 82

Thrust Center of Gravity Descent Aileron 82

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

What Is Aircraft Stability? Stability is the aircrafts tendency to maintain its attitude or orientation. This means that they have to be effective enough to counter the aircrafts inherent lateral stability. Lateral stability depends on the aircrafts design. This shifts the ailerons Center of Gravity (C.G.)

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

JUNE 2, 2025

Well discuss how phugoid motion relates to your aircrafts stability, what you can do to counter it, and even look at what it can do to an aircraft in severe cases. Phugoid Motion and Aircraft Stability Phugoid motion is closely related to an aircraft property called longitudinal stability. What can make an aircraft do that?

Stability 52

Stability Tail Pilot Descent 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

This principle is fundamental in generating lift, thrust, and maneuverability, allowing aircraft to fly. Thrust (how it moves forward). Thrust and Propulsion Systems A wing has to move fast enough through the air to generate lift effectively. That force is called thrust. Thrust relies on Newtons Third Law as well.

Lift 52

Lift Torque Thrust Aileron 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

From the pilot’s seat it cruises near effortlessly and handles nimbly on land or water with a great combination of stability and modest control pressures. Just recognizable in the background is a horizontal stabilizer and one-piece elevator. I think I’d have figured out the trick in another couple hours.

Airplanes 79

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 79

AV Web

APRIL 15, 2025

After takeoff, the airplane impacted the ground about 600 yards from the end of the runway… Although estimated takeoff weight was below maximum, the airplane was loaded with an aft CG (hint), which would have reduced the longitudinal stability during the climb out. Post-almost-flight investigation proved embarrassing.

Pilot 52

Pilot Airplanes Runway Descent 52