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?

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Thrust Drag Lift 116

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.

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Drag Lift Jet Stability 52

Simple Flying

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Since most aircraft spend nearly 90% of their operational time in cruise flight, the cruise lift-to-drag ratio determines the cruise performance of the aircraft. Engines play a vital role in ensuring that necessary thrust is provided to counter the drag forces and achieve a level flight.

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Drag Thrust Lift 105

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.

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Pilot Drag Descent Approach 52

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 106

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Knot Airplanes 106

Flying Magazine

MAY 30, 2025

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. Early builders probably did not realize how great the drag of wires was. A notable later finding was that the drag of a round wire is equal to that of an airfoil 30 times as thick.

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Drag Airfoil Lift Airplanes 105

AV Web

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

The trials collected measurements on lift and drag under multiple aerodynamic configurations and flight conditions. The X-66 concept incorporates an “extra-long” (high aspect ratio) strut-braced transonic wing for minimal drag and high aerodynamic efficiency. The ultimate goal is to create a more fuel-efficient airliner.

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Drag Lift Airline Airlines 105

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.

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Payload NOTAMs Drag Lift 115

Flight Training Central

MAY 7, 2024

The horizontal component of lift. The vertical component of lift. The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag. lift, gravity, power, and friction. lift, weight, gravity, and thrust. What force makes an airplane turn? Centrifugal force.

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Gross Weight Longitudinal Axis Airfoil Lift 98

Simple Flying

MAY 29, 2024

These are specialized enhancements at the tips of wings to minimize lift-induced drag and increase fuel efficiency in flight. One of the design differences between the two manufacturers is the types of wingtip devices used on airplanes. Airbus refers to them as Sharklets whereas Boeing calls them winglets.

Drag 105

Drag Lift Airplanes 105

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.

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True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Altimeter Lift 52

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.

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Lift Thrust Tail Horizontal Stabilizer 52

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.

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Tail Airfoil Drag Ceiling 98

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.

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Drag Horizontal Stabilizer Stability Airfoil 52

Aerotime

JULY 26, 2024

The UK has a rich and deep history in engineering, invention, and innovation, and in the 18 th century it was the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution which dragged the world into the new age of industrialization.

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Lift Aviation Technology Cargo Drag 278

AV Web

DECEMBER 3, 2024

The research pair suggest their robot not only helps explain certain aspects of raptor flight but might be useful in designing new kinds of drones that are able to turn more smoothly, and thus, more efficiently.

Tail 105

Tail Aileron Drag Lift 105

Flight Training Central

MAY 6, 2024

This meant the airplane, if were to carry anything, had to be built from very light materials incapable of providing support for a wing long enough to generate the needed lift. The bi-wing design allows two shorter wings to be braced against one another with a series of struts and wires providing the strength and lifting surface required.

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Lift Drag Airplanes Ground Effect 97

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.

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AGL Crosswind Final Approach Threshold 52

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.

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Weather Pilot Drag Rudder 52

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.

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Transponder Airplanes Drag Knot 55

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.

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Aileron Drag Rudder Descent 52

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.

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Descent Approach AGL Lift 52

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

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 8, 2024

Lift We’ll start with my personal favorite — lift. Weight Now let’s talk about the flip side of lift — weight. To maintain level flight, we would need to have enough air flowing over the wings to match the amount of weight we’re lifting — the plane itself, fuel, passengers, baggage and, of course, that cup of coffee.

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Drag Lift Thrust Airplanes 52

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.

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Gross Weight Airfoil Drag Stability 56

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 52

Drag Stability Approach Lift 52

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 52

Drag Approach Stability Lift 52

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.

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Lift Tail Stability Wind Shear 54

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.

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Airfoil Rudder Drag Stability 98

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

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. Lift increases due to the high-pressure area created by the compressed air beneath the wings. It’s not magic—it’s ground effect.

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Ground Effect Drag Lift AGL 52

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

A smaller bank angle will result in more lift, while an increased bank angle will reduce the lift. As an aircraft banks, lift is divided into horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component of lift causes the aircraft to turn. Combining both components of lift, the total lift required increases.

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Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52

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.

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Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52

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?

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Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

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.

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Lift Turbulence Drag Pilot 52

Air Facts

JANUARY 6, 2025

As the icing rapidly accumulated, we could tell the drag was multiplying at an alarming rate. We broke out around minimums, welcomed by the warm glow of the approach lights and drove the Saab right onto the pavement with no attempt to flare, not knowing if the wings had any margin of lift left before stall.

Drag 98

Drag Runway Approach Ceiling 98

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?

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Lift Rudder Drag Checkride 52

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 10, 2024

The fuselage of L-1049G was paired with a new, sleeker, low-drag wing which not only was 16 percent thinner than the previous wing design, but it also stretched to a majestic 150 feet. the prototype L-1649 lifted off from Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. The First Shooting Star On October 10, 1956, at 4:15 p.m.,

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Drag Lift Jet Cargo 98