Vintage Aviation News

MAY 2, 2025

Langley was particularly focused on structural loads, while Ames concentrated on dynamic stability. The drag chute was used on landings to help brake the airplane’s speed. Accommodations were for two pilots and a navigator, with the aircraft being instrumented for aeroelasticity studies. NASA Photo

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Gross Weight Airfoil Drag Stability 60

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

One of the most reliable aircraft for training is the Piper Seminole, a twin-engine plane that offers hands-on experience for future pilots. Section 1: Getting to Know the Piper Seminole The Piper Seminole is a versatile twin-engine aircraft frequently used for flight training, particularly for pilots advancing to multi-engine ratings.

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Air Facts

MAY 14, 2025

Throttle Mismanagement: A T-38 Lesson That Stuck Air Facts Journal An Air Force instructor teaches a powerful lesson on throttle finessein a jet that doesnt forgive overcorrections Have you ever been in a car or plane where the person driving or piloting is constantly adjusting the throttle? At least he didnt light the afterburners!

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AGL Threshold Final Approach Crosswind 52

CFI Academy

MAY 12, 2025

Slow flight is one of the most essential yet challenging maneuvers for new pilots to master and for Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) to teach effectively. Source: FAA Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 6 Flight Controls 3. Its where control precision, aircraft handling, and situational awareness meet.

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Drag Stability Approach Lift 52

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 21, 2024

The 1948 Incident The second YB-49, piloted by Major Daniel A. Air Force photo) Devil’s in the Details The YB-49 design aimed to create a highly efficient aircraft with low drag by its rare all-wing configuration. The YB-49 design featured four small vertical fins that were added to improve yaw stability.

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Stability Drag Jet Pilot 98

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

When the aircraft is in a high-drag configuration, a stall at a low altitude can be quite dangerous. How to Perform a Power-off Stall The FAA’s Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards (ACS) outline the procedure for performing a power-off stall. Because showing sound judgment and preparation is part of what makes a good pilot.

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Descent Approach AGL Lift 52

CFI Academy

MAY 12, 2025

Slow flight is one of the most essential yet challenging maneuvers for new pilots to master — and for Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) to teach effectively. Once you’ve adjusted power and pitch, the aircraft won’t respond instantly — especially in high-drag, low-speed configurations. What Is Slow Flight?

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Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

It’s a rite of passage for pilots-in-training to hear these words come from their flight instructor repeatedly. The pilot can control the yawing of the plane by inputs on the rudder pedals. The rudder is a movable flight control which is mounted on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer on the back of the airplane.

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Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 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. The Maiden Flight After spending a valuable amount of time on intricate details, the Stipa-Caproni prototype took its first flight on October 7, 1932, with test pilot Domenico Antonini.

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Airfoil Rudder Drag Stability 98

Flight Training Central

MAY 6, 2024

Because birds were designed by God and he created them with high wings”- quote by the late John Frank, Cessna Pilots Association. 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. “Low wing airplanes were designed by the very devil himself.

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Lift Drag Airplanes Ground Effect 97

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

But is that something a pilot would actually think about in flight? Does this concept allow the pilot to fly more precisely or more safely? Chapter 4 of the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook is the poster child for this kind of pilot-abusing declamation. How does a pilot trade off a thousand feet of altitude for more speed?

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Airplanes Descent Pilot Altimeter 94

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

The offset top wing offered the benefits of increased visibility to the pilot, and it was also claimed to have reduced interference drag between the top and bottom wings (though later evidence would argue the benefit as negligible.) The main perk was that this design just looked “cool”. Beech YC-43 assembly line, probably Model 17R.

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Drag Stability Pilot Hangar 105

Vintage Aviation News

JULY 23, 2024

Well respected CAF Helldiver pilot, Ed Vesely, was at the controls for the initial test hop, which went smoothly according to those present. Gilbert’s selection as a test pilot was a mark of respect, both for his courage and for his flying skills. Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver BuNo.83393, NARA photo) As Lt. jg) Mark Gilbert.

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Cockpit Drag Runway Pilot 130

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Irving and Vultee’s chief test pilot Frank W. The aircraft exhibited poor directional stability (which was solved through the later addition of a ventral tail fin) at low speeds and oil sometimes splattered on the canopy’s windscreen. Davis to lead the project’s design team.

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Thrust Tail Jet Drag 52

Pilot's Life Blog

DECEMBER 20, 2024

What is pilot ground school? Its the first essential step in your journey to becoming a certified pilot. What Pilot Ground School Entails So, what is pilot ground school ? Its a crucial part of becoming a pilot. Air Law : Knowing the rules of the sky is essential for every pilot.

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Pilot Air Traffic Control Weather Flight Plan 52

Pilot Job Central

OCTOBER 4, 2023

United Airlines Pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract. Big Picture Pilots at United Airlines have approved a new four-year contract. They have joined pilots at American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, who both approved new contracts earlier in 2023.

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Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Have you ever wondered how pilots keep control at high speeds, during stalls, or even when systems fail? The pilot is able to control the aircrafts roll by turning the control yoke or sidestick in the cockpit. What Is Aircraft Stability? Stability is the aircrafts tendency to maintain its attitude or orientation.

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Pilot's Life Blog

MARCH 15, 2024

One of the first things an aspiring pilot learns in flight school is the various sections of an aircraft. If you’re wondering how to become a commercial pilot in Arizona , this in-depth guide to important aircraft parts will help in your pursuit. All of these primary control surfaces serve as a horizontal stabilizer for the plane.

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Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron Air Traffic Control Lift 52

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

I imagine this is how a real CRJ pilot must feel. I imagine MD80-style pilots are used to the same sensation. As is often the case with swept-wing jets, sometimes extra drag is required beyond gear and flaps. Older jets without winglets or shorter wingspans are much faster in roll and lack some stability in bank.

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Crosswind Weather Knot Aileron 105

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

Pilots and flight schools favor this aircraft for its ease of use and dependable performance. First introduced in 2005, this all-glass cockpit revolutionized the flying experience for pilots by providing a comprehensive and intuitive interface. This article explores the Cessna Skyhawk C172’s features, evolution, and lasting appeal.

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Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Key Takeaways Slow flight trains pilots to handle the aircraft at speeds just above stalling. That’s why it’s crucial for pilots to learn aircraft control at low speeds. Additionally, both private and commercial pilot checkrides require the demonstration of slow flight. Pilots use reference stalling speeds instead.

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Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Modern AOA indicators help pilots maintain safe flight attitudes and prevent stalls. Managing the angle of attack matters because it directly influences lift generation and drag in all phases of flight. To counter the effect of this wing loading, the pilot has to pull on the stick. Many pilots have stalled in a dive.

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Lift Turbulence Drag Pilot 52

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 1, 2024

X and Y aircraft had rounded vertical stabilizers and wingtips while the production A and B models had squared surfaces. Additionally, the straight-wing design of the XP-59 caused drag issues, which limited its performance and speed. pilots and engineers. The Tizard Mission became the inspiration for the U.S. YP-59A in flight.

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Jet Stability Drag Thrust 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

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. This roughness adds to friction drag, which can reduce lift and increase drag by as much as 50% on a wing’s leading edge and upper surface.

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Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 11, 2024

This allowed for more stability and control, especially in hover. The streamlined nature of this configuration minimized drag while keeping the aircraft lightweight and maneuverable, increasing CR Twin’s range. The first prototype (G-AWRP) is preserved and displayed at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, UK.

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Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Even the best of pilots can mess up sometimes. But for new pilots, it can be tough to figure out where it all went wrong. The easiest way to achieve this is by flying a stabilized approach. So, what is a stabilized approach? You can find them in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or the owner’s manual.

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Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Fear of Landing

MARCH 22, 2024

Today, aircraft are equipped with forward-looking sensors that alert pilots to wind shear hazards. One of the most revolutionary was the “area rule,” a concept that helped aircraft designers avoid the disruption in airflow and resulting drag caused by the attachment of the wings to the fuselage.

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Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

A soft field landing is a technique pilots use when landing on unpaved surfaces. Why Do Pilots Perform Soft Field Landings? However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. Crowd Source Information The next best resource for information about runway conditions is other pilots.

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NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Short field landings are a true test of a pilot’s skill. They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. Whether you’re new to short field landings or a pilot needing a refresher, this essential guide is for you. Feeling overwhelmed by this challenging maneuver?

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Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52

Flying Magazine

JUNE 2, 2025

An instrument-rated private pilot and flight enthusiast, he used the proceeds to create, with two partners, a new company, which they named Boom Technology. Approaching and passing through Mach 1, however, an airplane acquires, in addition to the drag it already has, a new kind of drag, called wave drag.

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Drag Airplanes Knot Indicated Airspeed 98

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

As you reach high speeds, especially near or above the speed of sound, you can then sweep the wings back to reduce drag. They delay the formation of shock waves that cause wave drag. These movements are controlled by hydraulic or electric actuators, which are managed by onboard computers or you, the pilot.

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Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. If the pilot increases the wings angle of attack too much, the airflow can separate from the wings surface, causing a stall – an abrupt loss of lift. What does Newtons Third law tell pilots about thrust?

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Vintage Aviation News

JANUARY 14, 2025

On December 14, 1952, the XF2Y Sea Dart began its first taxi tests, with Convair’s chief test pilot, Ellis Dent “Sam” Shannon, at the controls. It was also hoped that a seaplane fighter could also operate from remote areas that had no airbases but enough water for seaplane operations.

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Cockpit Flight Deck Drag Stability 98

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Additionally, the design featured a large engine, small wings with high wind loading, and a focus on low-altitude stability. The test pilot, John A. The aircraft felt underpowered and, faced issues with transonic drag, and went under further refinements in the design. Jack” D.T.W. Pat” Patton achieved a top speed of Mach 1.2

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Weather Drag Payload Stability 97

Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 14, 2024

It was certainly a most unusual aircraft, distinguished by its forward swept wing and canard horizontal stabilizers. This was why the strakes were added to the X-29’s tail, in order to reduce drag from using the trim on the canard in the nose.

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Horizontal Stabilizer Center of Gravity Tail Drag 96

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

How an aircraft handles Dutch roll depends on its dynamic stability. The aircraft’s design influences its dynamic stability. Large aircraft use yaw dampers while small aircraft rely on piloting techniques to counter Dutch roll. Increased lift on the raised wing immediately creates more induced drag. What’s induced drag?

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Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Aerotime

MARCH 27, 2025

However, the Concorde, along with countless other military aircraft of various sizes and descriptions, could never have made that leap beyond Mach One, the official speed at which an aircraft is traveling faster than the speed of sound, without the bravery and spirit of adventure of one pilot and his unwavering passion for aviation.

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