Flight Training Central

MAY 7, 2024

The term 'angle of attack' is defined as the angle between the airplane's longitudinal axis and that of the air striking the airfoil. Air traveling faster over the curved upper surface of an airfoil causes lower pressure on the top surface. The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag.

Gross Weight 98

Gross Weight Longitudinal Axis Airfoil Lift 98

Learn to Fly

JULY 11, 2024

An angle of attack (AOA) indicator can determine the aerodynamic health of the airfoil (wing). More simply, an AOA indicator displays the margin between the current AOA of the airfoil, and the AOA at which the airfoil will stall (critical AOA), providing the pilot with a visual and sometimes audible indication.

Airfoil 52

Airfoil Center of Gravity Density Altitude Drag 52

Fear of Landing

MARCH 22, 2024

One of the most revolutionary was the “area rule,” a concept that helped aircraft designers avoid the disruption in airflow and resulting drag caused by the attachment of the wings to the fuselage. The resulting “supercritical airfoil” shape, when integrated with the aircraft wing, significantly improves the aircraft’s cruise efficiency.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Airfoil Drag Airlines 52

Air Facts

JULY 22, 2024

The Four Forces of Flight (Lift, Thrust, Drag & Gravity) obey Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. irplane controls work per the Lever Principle, and a wing’s airfoil shape increases lift via the Bernouilli Principle and Coanda Effect. Like Moses and the Ten Commandments, aviation is limited by 10 laws of physics and chemistry.

Lift 80

Lift Airfoil Knot Airplanes 80