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Wingtip Vortices and Wake Turbulence

Pilot Institute

When air flows over the aircraft wing, the shape of the airfoil creates low pressure above the wing and relatively higher pressure below the wing. Vortex size is also affected by proximity to the ground. If youre flying low enough to be in ground effect, the vortex isnt able to fully develop.

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Nothing Small About It

Plane and Pilot

The airfoil is a Harry Riblett shape, giving modernized flow separation on the leading edge for a soft stall yet with good lift and drag performance. This is a Riblett-airfoil airplane with a slow stall speed (we got it down to 42 knots IAS and it didn’t stall) and a cruise speed of 120 knots. The plane will fly itself off.