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What Is a Flat Spin?

Pilot Institute

An aft center of gravity increases flat spin risk. A flat spin happens when the center of gravity shifts too far aft (toward the tail), and the aircraft’s rotation becomes more horizontal. Some aircraft can enter flat spins even if their center of gravity is in the normal range.

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What Is a Dutch Roll, and Is It Dangerous?

Pilot Institute

How an aircraft handles Dutch roll depends on its dynamic stability. The aircraft’s design influences its dynamic stability. To understand the aircraft’s response to a disturbance, you need to understand aerodynamic stability. There are two main types of stability: Static and Dynamic stability.

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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 most commonly forms on the leading edges of your aircraft, including the wings, tail, and horizontal stabilizer, as well as on the propeller blades and pitot tubes.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Grumman X-29

Vintage Aviation News

It was certainly a most unusual aircraft, distinguished by its forward swept wing and canard horizontal stabilizers. One of the biggest challenges for the X-29 was the unusual center of gravity, which was affected by the rear-mounting of the forward-swept wings and made the X-29 inherently unstable.

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Nothing Small About It

Plane and Pilot

From the pilot’s seat it cruises near effortlessly and handles nimbly on land or water with a great combination of stability and modest control pressures. Just recognizable in the background is a horizontal stabilizer and one-piece elevator. I think I’d have figured out the trick in another couple hours.