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Video tip: The aerodynamics of induced and parasite drag

Flight Training Central

During your flight training, you’ll learn all about the 4 forces acting on the airplane in flight, including lift, thrust, weight and drag. This week’s tip takes a closer look at the aerodynamic forces that cause the rearward force of drag, including a breakdown of parasite vs. induced drag.

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As Uncertainty Reigns Over Washington, American Cuts Back

Cranky Flier

So, it is doing the next best thing and downgauging to smaller airplanes. If things continue to drag on or even get worse, then I’d imagine American will have to take an even harder look at what it is planning to fly. Looking at a sample week using Cirium data, that cuts about 2.5

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Banner Tow Tragedy

Plane and Pilot

Its connected, along with a safety weak link, to the tail of the airplane. With skill (and some luck) the hook catches, the plane roars up to not drag the fabric along the ground, and the whole assembly is hoisted into the air. Dropping the banner removed its drag, but only pitching down would have escaped the stall.

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Video tip: Flying airplanes with retractable landing gear

Flight Training Central

Many high-performance airplanes feature retractable landing gear that allows them to fly at higher speeds thanks to the reduced drag (and they look cool too). The video clip below is from Sporty’s 2025 Learn to Fly Course

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Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1969 Mooney M20E Chaparral

Plane and Pilot

For a certain segment of pilots looking to travel a certain distance, a fast, personal airplane can serve as a veritable time machine. And the rest of the airplane follows suit. While individual upgrades like these often return only a few knots each, they can collectively boost a stock airplanes cruise speed noticeably.

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10 Airplanes to Fly Before You Die

Plane and Pilot

All of which makes picking 10 airplanes for your fly-before-you-die list more than just a bit subjective. Meanwhile, Marc Cook, Plane & Pilot editor in chief, has 43 years in the left seat and had the good fortune to work a decade for AOPA and fly a bunch of interesting airplanes. T-6’s performat EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

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The physics of mobility: an interesting comparison of road, rail, and air travel

Aerotime

Physics of mobility 101 Every movement, every transportation, regardless of whether it takes place in a car, by train, on a bicycle, in an airplane or simply by walking, requires energy. It must be noted that energy to overcome air drag is only required when the movement takes place in an atmospheric environment.

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