Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Flatter approach angle (due to less drag). Lift and Drag Modifications A no-flaps landing significantly reduces drag and lift, which is why the approach is flown at a higher speed. In such a situation, you need to maintain lift by adjusting the angle of attack and airspeed, which requires precise control.

Pilot

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. This means the inboard wing loses lift first, while the wingtips might still be lifting. This is partly due to the steep rise in drag nearing M cr.

True Airspeed

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

Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Davis, who had developed a new wing, whose airfoil had a lower drag co-efficiency than other wing designs of the time, and which had already been used on the company’s Model 31/XP4Y Corregidor flying boat. The Davis Wing allowed for higher speeds and added lift at relatively low angles of attack.

Tail

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Understanding the Basics of Flight Aerodynamics 101 Flying a small plane revolves around understanding four key forces: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Lift is generated by the wings as air flows over them, counteracting weight, which pulls the plane downward due to gravity.

Weather

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 11, 2025

They flew a total of 313 missions, collecting invaluable data on pitch stability, lift, drag, and buffeting in transonic and supersonic flight. The jet- and rocket-powered aircraft exceeded expectations, performing better than predicted in high-speed wind tunnel testsparticularly in drag performance above Mach 0.85.

Drag

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

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. 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. I wanted him to make minor correctionsand only when necessary.

AGL

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

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. The more the wings shape is able to change the direction of the flow of air over the surface, the more lift it will produce. Why does this increase the lift? How Do Ailerons Work?

Aileron

Professional Pilot

JULY 7, 2025

However, they underestimated their climb from the lift off point and, with the sluggish rate of climb, the saddle ridge across the departure path suddenly became a dangerous obstacle they might not clear. Every pilot knows that aircraft fly because the forces of lift and thrust balance or exceed the weight and drag countering them.

Density Altitude

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Though the German Zeppelins were inflated with hydrogen, which was a more readily available and lighter lifting gas, it was flammable when mixed with oxygen, which doomed many a Zeppelin to a fiery end. While flying high over West Texas, the sun heated and expanded the helium lifting gas, forcing the Macon to rise up.

Lift

Flying Magazine

MAY 7, 2025

Naval Academy, approached the problem by setting lift-drag ratio, L/D, as his metric of efficiency. I believe the reason is that flight testing reveals that with the added drag of a windmilling propeller, which my simulation ignores, a lower gliding speed is better. These are indicated, not true, airspeeds.)

True Airspeed

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Understanding the Basics of Flight Principles of Flight: Lift, Weight, Thrust, and Drag Flying a plane for the first time requires a basic understanding of the forces that make flight possible. Lift is generated by the wings, counteracting the force of weight, which pulls the plane down.

Aileron

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

Flying Magazine

JULY 3, 2025

Full flaps are mostly about drag, not lift. We are on short final, about to cross the field threshold, and I am 25 knots above my targeted landing speed (VREF). I saved the final flap position for this scenario.

Knot

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Lift is the force that aircraft use to counter gravity. Newton’s Third Law is one of the key laws of physics that explains lift. Lets see what Newtons Third Law is, and why we need it to understand lift. This principle is fundamental in generating lift, thrust, and maneuverability, allowing aircraft to fly.

Torque

Flying Magazine

MAY 27, 2025

The mission is expected to lift off from SpaceXs Starbase facility in Texas at 7:30 p.m. The booster will also descend at a higher angle of attack, intended to increase drag, lower speed, and burn less propellant. If all goes to plan, Flight 9 could be the first successful test of the configuration.

Payload

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

With nothing left to lift it, the core has nowhere else to go but down. When you fly into a microburst on approach or departure, youll first encounter a strong headwind, which will give you a brief lift. Without enough altitude or time to react, the aircraft can lose lift and crash before you can recover. Dont lower the nose!

Wind Shear

WayMan

MAY 25, 2025

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. Regardless of placement, the principle remains the same: wings generate the lift that makes flight possible.

Lift

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Winglets and Sharklets Both Airbus and Boeing operate aircraft with wingtip devices that are designed to increase aircraft efficiency by removing drag. The devices would prove to “reduce wingtip drag” and increase “fuel efficiency by 6-7%” but would need be positioned uniquely for each aircraft type.

Lift

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

During training, you’ll learn about Newton’s laws of motion, Bernoulli’s principle, and aerodynamic forces, including lift, thrust, and drag. The physics you’ll encounter is straightforward. A Private Pilot License usually costs between $16,000 and $21,000.

Pilot

CFI Academy

MAY 12, 2025

During slow flight, the aircraft requires a higher nose-up attitude to counteract reduced lift at slower speeds. Once you’ve adjusted power and pitch, the aircraft won’t respond instantly — especially in high-drag, low-speed configurations. Why it works: Over-controlling is one of the most common mistakes in slow flight.

Drag

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Approach speeds typically range from 80 to 90 knots depending on weight and flap settings, while full flaps are often used to provide the necessary lift during landing. Full flaps provide maximum lift and stability, allowing the aircraft to fly slower without stalling. This is a critical step when learning how to land a Piper Seminole.

Descent

CFI Academy

MAY 12, 2025

During slow flight, the aircraft requires a higher nose-up attitude to counteract reduced lift at slower speeds. Once youve adjusted power and pitch, the aircraft wont respond instantly especially in high-drag, low-speed configurations. Why it works: Over-controlling is one of the most common mistakes in slow flight.

Drag

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 2, 2025

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. The drag chute was used on landings to help brake the airplane’s speed. The B-47A fuselage was 106 feet 11 inches in length.

Gross Weight

Plane and Pilot

APRIL 23, 2025

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. Theres something about the feeling of flying a retractable-gear airplane.

Transponder

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

Key Takeaways Variable-sweep wings adjust in flight to balance lift and speed. Straight Wings and Swept Wings At low speeds, like when you’re taking off or landing, you can extend the wings straight out to produce more lift. This is because straight wings have a higher aspect ratio, which also increases the coefficient of lift.

Weight-Shift-Control

World Airline News

APRIL 24, 2025

United Airlines/JetZero JetZero’s innovative design reduces drag and produces lift across the entire wingspan, which could lead to as much as 50% reduction in fuel burn per passenger mile compared to a similar sized aircraft.

Airplanes

Fear of Landing

JULY 4, 2025

The pilot dragged the helicopter onto a helipad and removed the ground wheels, storing them safely before boarding the helicopter. At 01:46, the helicopter lifted off of the helipad. As a result of the pitch up, the helicopter would have rapidly lost airspeed and lift. The main rotor began to rotate.

Cockpit

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Landing gear is also retracted as the aircraft gains altitude to reduce drag and improve climb performance. Retracting flaps too quickly can reduce lift prematurely. Flap and Gear Management: Depending on the aircraft type and situation, the pilot will begin retracting flaps incrementally once a positive rate of climb is established.

Air Traffic Control

Flight Training Central

JUNE 30, 2025

Baffled by Bernoulli A CFI applicant was asked to teach lift during their practical exam. When he created his principle of differential pressure, he had no thoughts about its future application to the development of airfoils and lift production. This lower pressure on the top of the wing is a part of the lift production.

Airfoil

Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

A witness reported that they saw the airplane lift off from the runway and remain in ground effect until it crossed the departure end of the runway. The left-engine propeller was not feathered at the accident site, which resulted in additional in-flight drag and a higher minimum controllable airspeed (VMC).

Density Altitude

Plane and Pilot

JULY 22, 2025

Although we were expecting the ceilings to lift, we were only able to climb to 1,300 feet agl before running out of proper cloud clearance. Whether you’re a pilot with a fresh tailwheel endorsement or someone that has spent thousands of hours dragging tail, TacAero’s UPF-7 checkout is designed to be enjoyed by almost anyone.

Runway

Flying Magazine

JULY 17, 2025

Aerodynamics: Understand forces like lift, drag, and thrust, especially how they apply to multicopters and fixed-wing drones. Aeronautical Knowledge Weather: Learn how to read METARs and TAFs, interpret weather maps, and understand the weather’s effect on drone performance.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

AUGUST 21, 2024

During your flight training, you’ll learn all about the 4 forces acting on the airplane in flight, including lift, thrust, weight and drag. This week’s tip takes a closer look at the aerodynamic forces that cause the rearward force of drag, including a breakdown of parasite vs. induced drag.

Drag

Aerotime

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Energy is always required for acceleration, to overcome air drag, as well as rolling and friction resistance of wheels on road and rail, and for “lifting work”, i.e., working against gravity. It must be noted that energy to overcome air drag is only required when the movement takes place in an atmospheric environment.

Drag

Simple Flying

JULY 8, 2024

Although the science behind flight may seem complex, it boils down to the balance of four fundamental forces: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Have you ever watched a plane take off and wondered how that big metal object full of people actually floats in the air?

Thrust