Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

Largely gone are the days when pilots had to manually control their aircraft from engine start-up to shut down by keeping their hands rigidly fixed on the controls at all times. As a result, the first autopilot was developed to introduce an element of control on the trajectory of airplanes. What is an autopilot?

Weight-Shift-Control 301

Weight-Shift-Control Cockpit Pilot Stability 301

Pilot Institute

JUNE 4, 2025

How does it turn or climb without the usual control surfaces? Despite their lack of horizontal control surfaces, tailless aircraft are designed to be stable. A tailless aircraft is a fixed-wing airplane without a horizontal stabilizing surface. Directional (yawing) stability from the vertical stabilizer.

Tail 52

Tail Airplanes Weight-Shift-Control Drag 52

Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

The rich can dream of jets and warbirds. Lets go back to that time in postwar GA when the sands shifted quickly. The Ercoupe was designed with only two controls, roll and pitch, so it couldnt be kicked out in a crosswindit had to withstand landing in a crab. There were 23 runway loss of control (RLOC) events.

Approach 73

Approach Airplanes Stability Weight-Shift-Control 73

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

These control surfaces dictate the aircraft’s roll, and this allows it to bank smoothly through turns or even recover from turbulence. Have you ever wondered how pilots keep control at high speeds, during stalls, or even when systems fail? Key Takeaways Ailerons control the aircrafts roll by adjusting lift on each wing.

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

JUNE 12, 2025

Aircraft that transform their wing shape mid-flight might sound like something out of a futuristic sci-fi, but they’re actually as old as the jet age itself. The design adds weight, complexity, and maintenance needs. Modern jets favor simpler, stealthier fixed-wing designs. You’ll have direct control over the wing configuration.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Drag Lift Payload 52

Airspeed Junkie

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

These engines are arranged in four pods beneath the wings, a design that not only provides the necessary thrust but also helps delay stall onset, contributing to the aircraft’s stability and performance. The control systems are equally sophisticated. The wings are another marvel of engineering.

Payload 98

Payload Weight-Shift-Control Thrust Aileron 98