Remove Drag Remove Rudder Remove Thrust
article thumbnail

Tailless Aircraft: How Airplanes Fly Without a Tail

Pilot Institute

A tailless aircraft may still have a fuselage and a vertical tail (fin and rudder). 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. Why does this matter?

Tail 52
article thumbnail

Crosswind Landing Gone Wrong: TUI Boeing 737 at Leeds Bradford

Fear of Landing

Just before touchdown, the captain used right rudder to “de-crab” the aircraft and landed smoothly in the touchdown area. The autobrake engaged, reverse thrust was deployed and they began to decelerate. As they decelerated, the captain reduced the right rudder to neutral. right rudder.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

What are the Key Parts of a Plane?

WayMan

The engine is what provides the thrust needed to move the aircraft forward. Propeller: Creating Thrust The propeller is an aerodynamic device that converts rotational motion into linear thrust. The angle and speed of the blades determine how much thrust is produced. Interested in Becoming a Pilot?

Lift 52
article thumbnail

Flight Test Files: The Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket – Chasing Mach 2

Vintage Aviation News

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 52
article thumbnail

Flying a Small Plane: Key Insights for Beginners

Pilot's Life Blog

Understanding the Basics of Flight Aerodynamics 101 Flying a small plane revolves around understanding four key forces: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Thrust, produced by the engine, propels the plane forward, overcoming drag, which is the resistance caused by air.

Weather 52
article thumbnail

What Every Pilot Needs to Know about the Airplane Rudder

Northstar VFR

More right rudder!!” The airplane rudder is one of the most misunderstood of the primary flight controls. Yet the rudder is one of the most important and one of the most under-utilized. The rudder’s most important function is controlling the yaw of the aircraft, which moves the nose of the plane left and right.

Rudder 52
article thumbnail

Flying a Plane for the First Time: A Beginner’s Guide

Pilot's Life Blog

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. Thrust, produced by the engines, moves the plane forward, while drag, or air resistance, slows it down.

Aileron 52