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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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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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Everything You Need To Know About Ailerons

Pilot Institute

Have you ever wondered how pilots keep control at high speeds, during stalls, or even when systems fail? The pilot is able to control the aircrafts roll by turning the control yoke or sidestick in the cockpit. The hydraulic system works similarly to a cars power steering and greatly reduces the effort needed by the pilots.

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The Hazards of Aircraft Icing: Explained

Pilot Institute

Remember that wings, propeller blades, and tail surfaces are airfoil-shaped. Additional Dangers of Ice Accumulation Icing also makes your aircraft heavier and can even change the position of the center of gravity. Many aircraft have heated leading edges on the wings, tail, and propellers.

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How to Make a Perfect Soft Field Landing Every Time

Pilot Institute

A soft field landing is a technique pilots use when landing on unpaved surfaces. Why Do Pilots Perform Soft Field Landings? This tendency is due to their high center of gravity and heavy engine over the nose wheel. Crowd Source Information The next best resource for information about runway conditions is other pilots.

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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 Role of Newton’s Third Law in Aviation

Pilot Institute

Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. If the pilot increases the wings angle of attack too much, the airflow can separate from the wings surface, causing a stall – an abrupt loss of lift. What does Newtons Third law tell pilots about thrust?

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