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

Aerotime

The automatic pilot (autopilot) has to be one of aviations finest technological inventions. 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.

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Chord Line in Aviation? What It Is and Why It Is Important

Pilot Institute

Center of Gravity: Used to calculate and balance the aircraft’s center of gravity. Wing Control: Flaps, slats, and ailerons change the chord line, impacting lift and control. This issue aside, there is another reason why pilots, aircraft engineers, and designers talk about chord lines.

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Everything You Need To Know About Ailerons

Pilot Institute

At first glance, ailerons look like ordinary hinged panels on the wings, but don’t be fooledthey’re important for keeping an aircraft both stable and maneuverable. But theres much more to ailerons than just rolling left or right. But theres much more to ailerons than just rolling left or right. What Is an Aileron?

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Chord Line in Aviation? What It Is and Why It Is Important

Pilot Institute

Center of Gravity: Used to calculate and balance the aircraft’s center of gravity. Wing Control: Flaps, slats, and ailerons change the chord line, impacting lift and control. This issue aside, there is another reason why pilots, aircraft engineers, and designers talk about chord lines.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell X-14

Vintage Aviation News

(Wright State University) The original configuration of the Bell Model 68 was an open cockpit all-metal monoplane with fixed landing gear that was powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet engines with thrust deflectors located at the aircraft’s center of gravity. Fortunately, the pilot in this incident, Ronald M.

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What Is a Flat Spin?

Pilot Institute

A flat spin is a thrilling (and potentially dangerous) flight phenomenon that pilots must prepare for. In reality, flat spins can challenge even experienced pilots, making it important for you to understand what they are and how to handle them. Ready to become a safer pilot? An aft center of gravity increases flat spin risk.

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The Hazards of Aircraft Icing: Explained

Pilot Institute

Additional Dangers of Ice Accumulation Icing also makes your aircraft heavier and can even change the position of the center of gravity. It can also cause control surfaces like ailerons and flaps to function improperly, making the aircraft harder to maneuver.