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

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 11, 2025

These stories shine a light on the aircraft and test pilots that pushed the limits of aeronautical knowledge, many of them flying out of the legendary Dryden Flight Research Center (now Armstrong Flight Research Center) at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Research pilot John McKay flew it once in this form on September 17, 1956.

Drag

WayMan

DECEMBER 18, 2024

This knowledge is crucial for anyone who wants to become a pilot. This range, also known as the stratosphere, is ideal for several reasons: Fuel Efficiency : The thinner air at high altitudes reduces drag, helping aircraft consume less fuel. How High Do Commercial Planes Fly?

Turbulence

Flying Magazine

JULY 3, 2025

Part of our product road map includes a piloted, hybrid-electric version of the TriFan as well as unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Pomeroy in remarks accompanying the announcement. “We This prevents tip vortices—a phenomenon where air leaks around blade tips, causing thrust loss and increased drag.

Lift

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

Starting on your path to becoming a pilot might feel like stepping into the unknown. Let’s get you set up with what you need to begin your pilot journey. Key Takeaways Getting a pilot’s license requires a high school education or GED and passing a basic medical exam. What Are the Basic Requirements to Start Pilot Training?

Pilot

Flying Magazine

JULY 3, 2025

I am an air ambulance pilot flying the venerable Lear 35 twinjet around the country, moving patients to critical and advanced care facilities. Then I pull out the pilot checklist (QRH). The yaw from the asymmetrical thrust was now gone, and the rudder needed to be retrimmed. Full flaps are mostly about drag, not lift.

Knot

Professional Pilot

JULY 7, 2025

A lighting the runway with under 1000 ft to go, the pilots breathed a sigh of relief. However, with no room to navigate up the steep glacial valley, the pilots finessed the airplane over the hurdle with no more than 200 ft of clearance. Conversely, lower density reduces drag, because the aircraft surface encounters fewer molecules.

Density Altitude

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Let us take you from first-time flyer to skilled pilot with personalized instruction designed for beginners like you. 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.

Aileron

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!

AGL

Fear of Landing

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

For the next leg, from Corfu to Leeds Bradford Airport, the captain, an ATPL with 14,250 hours, of which 2,800 were on type, was the Pilot Flying. The autobrake engaged, reverse thrust was deployed and they began to decelerate. avoided the wheel brakes and cancelled the reverse thrust.

Crosswind

Flying Magazine

JULY 22, 2025

Talking with Epic chief pilot Peter King, he told us of doing a loading problem for a flight from Van Nuys, California, to Las Vegas with two 400-pounders in the front seats, two 300-pounders in the middle seats, two 200-pounders in the rear seats, and 200 pounds of baggage.

Rudder

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. The hydraulic system works similarly to a cars power steering and greatly reduces the effort needed by the pilots.

Aileron

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.

Descent

WayMan

MAY 25, 2025

For anyone training to become a pilot or aviation technician, understanding the anatomy of an aircraft is one of the first essential steps. This is where the pilot and any co-pilot sit and manage every aspect of flight. The engine is what provides the thrust needed to move the aircraft forward.

Lift

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

This principle is fundamental in generating lift, thrust, and maneuverability, allowing aircraft to fly. Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. Thrust (how it moves forward). That force is called thrust. Thrust relies on Newtons Third Law as well.

Torque

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.

Descent

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

The pilots fought to recover, but the wind shear was too strong. They are difficult to detect, making pilot awareness and training vital. Technological advancements aid in detection, but pilot vigilance remains essential. Pilots now receive mandatory wind shear training. What changed? Dont lower the nose!

Wind Shear

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Irving and Vultee’s chief test pilot Frank W. Ground testing from June to December 1945, however, found the T-31 difficult to start, and once started, difficult for the pilot to control. Davis to lead the project’s design team. The throttle controls also suffered from control lag, with Frank W.

Thrust

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.

Pilot

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.

Drag

Aerotime

DECEMBER 28, 2024

Notable for its un-aerodynamic shape, the F-4 can reach high speeds thanks to the raw power of General Electric J79 engines, invoking a saying popular among Phantom pilots and fans alike – A brick can fly if you stick a big enough engine on it.” South Korea retired the last of its F-4E Phantoms in 2024. without using afterburners.

Jet

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.

Weight-Shift-Control

Fear of Landing

JULY 4, 2025

On the 12th of August in 2024, a pilot fatally crashed a Robinson R44 into the top of a hotel building in Cairns, Australia. Accident site and wreckage distribution The pilot held a commercial helicopter licence issued by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, including type ratings for the Robinson R44 helicopter. He had 157.8

Cockpit

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

An aircraft go-around is when a pilot decides to abort a landing and climb back to a safe altitude for another approach. How a Go-Around Is Performed Performing an aircraft go-around is a critical skill every pilot must master. This ensures the aircraft gains enough thrust to climb away from the runway safely.

Air Traffic Control

Air Facts

JULY 30, 2025

However, we didn’t have to hook up a long hose, drag a bucket of soapy water, sponges, and a chamois cloth out on the ramp, then sweat under the Florida sun to complete the task. So, when a Japanese fighter dove away, American pilots gained the edge. We worked to keep those effects to a minimum. But heavier, well-armored U.S.

Runway

Flying Magazine

JULY 17, 2025

With more drone pilots taking to the skies, it’s essential to understand the rules of the sky. It’s a personal decision that only you can make, but hopefully, FLYING’s tips can steer you in the right direction to choose a preferred UAV pilot school. For pilots, this means they are becoming highly valued.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

MAY 7, 2024

As much as it seems sometimes that airplanes fly by magic, it’s important for every pilot to understand at least the basic fundamentals of aerodynamics. Understanding these concepts will create a smoother and safer pilot. The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag.

Longitudinal Axis

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. Aerospace is undergoing its biggest revolution since the jet engine era.

Lift

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 26, 2024

The prototype made its first flight on October 26 that year with test pilot Vance Breese at the controls, the test flight giving successful results and the prototype showcasing good handling characteristics along with satisfactory payload at lower altitudes. As WWII proceeded, Mustang pilots almost destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft.

Drag

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.

Drag

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 8, 2024

By Josh Page, CFI Whenever I’m in an airplane as a passenger or a pilot , I still marvel that this heavy machine can get off the ground, soar through the sky, and land at my destination. Thrust Thrust is our forward motion. Drag I don’t mean to be a drag at this point, but let’s talk about what holds the plane back.

Drag

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.

Pilot

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. Some new student pilots think the rudder and vertical stabilizer are the same thing. The pilot controls the throttle to create thrust.

Rudder

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.

Lift

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 27, 2024

The common cockpit design allows pilots to transition between different Airbus aircraft with minimal additional training, enhancing operational flexibility. One of the standout features is its unique wing design with a high aspect ratio, which allows for improved lift and reduced drag, ensuring smoother and more efficient flights.

Ceiling

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. The engine creates thrust by burning fuel.

Horizontal Stabilizer

Latatuide 33 Aviation

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

Private air charter companies are implementing flight deck systems that optimize the pilot’s ability to engage various processes and visualize their flight path. New flight deck technology reduces the time between power-up and takeoff while helping pilots land on schedule and minimize times enroute.

Flight Deck