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Examining over 100 years of flight automation and the history of the autopilot

Aerotime

Flying for extended periods of time at the controls of a basic aircraft was hard physical work, and poor weather or mechanical issues could also add to pilot fatigue on longer flights. Sperrys first autopilot was born from the concept of assisting pilots during longer flights and reducing their workload, both physical and mental.

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Tailless Aircraft: How Airplanes Fly Without a Tail

Pilot Institute

A tailless aircraft is a fixed-wing airplane without a horizontal stabilizing surface. With this type of aircraft, the functions of longitudinal stability and control are incorporated into the main wing. A tailless aircraft may still have a fuselage and a vertical tail (fin and rudder). How does the tail do this? Lets find out.

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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Holland Accident

Flying Magazine

The horizontal stabilizer structure adjacent to the elevator position where the counterweight plug would have been installed displayed dents and paint scrapes consistent with contact with the counterweight plug. Photos of the horizontal stabilizer structure adjacent to the left elevator counterweight plug show a dented washer and scrapes.

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Flying a Small Plane: Key Insights for Beginners

Pilot's Life Blog

These forces must work in harmony to maintain flight stability. Primary Flight Controls The primary controls of a small plane are the yoke, rudder pedals, and throttle. Primary Flight Controls The primary controls of a small plane are the yoke, rudder pedals, and throttle. Do small planes have autopilot?

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Approachable Excellence

Plane and Pilot

To some extent this was carried out with the Cherokee, though the key design elementuse of a stabilator in place of a conventional elevator and fixed horizontal stabilizeris likely the influence of John Thorp. Thorp joined the Piper design team during the Cherokees development; his own Sky Scooter used a stabilator. Widell says.

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Flight Test Files: Convair XF-92A Dart

Vintage Aviation News

Besides validating the thin delta wing principle, the XF-92A played a major role in supporting the development of the Convair F-102A interceptor, the Air Forces first attempt at an all-weather, supersonic interceptor. feet high at the tip of the vertical stabilizer. feet long, had a 31.3-foot foot wingspan, and was 17.5

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Garmin Remains Major Player in Display and Autopilot Upgrades for Turbines

Flying Magazine

It has smart power management cues for securing a failed engine with the OEI ESP (one engine inoperative electronic stability and protection) feature. While it had a Garmin GTN 750 IFR navigator and newer Garmin weather radar, it still sported the original mechanical flight instruments, including King remote gyros and King KFC300 autopilot.