Remove Cockpit Remove Drag Remove Stability
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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Convair F2Y Sea Dart

Vintage Aviation News

By this point, however, the vibration issues on takeoff and landing were not resolved, and in the air the design exhibited high transonic drag, greatly reducing its intended performance. Charles Richbourg in the cockpit of the Convair YF2Y-1 Sea Dart. The official maiden flight of the Sea Dart took place on April 9, 1953.

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Airspeed and Altitude Control Simplified: Tips for Stable Flying

Pilot Institute

Combining the data shown on your cockpit instruments helps you make better judgments. One example is Indicated Airspeed (IAS), which is the airspeed you read directly from cockpit instruments. For instance, an aircraft maintaining a steady IAS at 30,000 feet will have a faster TAS than at sea level due to reduced drag from thinner air.

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Flying a Small Plane: Key Insights for Beginners

Pilot's Life Blog

Understanding the Basics of Flight Aerodynamics 101 Flying a small plane revolves around understanding four key forces: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Thrust, produced by the engine, propels the plane forward, overcoming drag, which is the resistance caused by air. These forces must work in harmony to maintain flight stability.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Stipa-Caproni

Vintage Aviation News

The unique cylindrical design of the fuselage allowed for a streamlined profile and reduced drag, increasing the overall efficiency. Additionally, the aircraft had low, fixed, spatted main landing gear and a tailwheel with twin open cockpits. Thus, the benefits in engine efficiency were canceled out.

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The anatomy of a commercial flight – all you ever wanted to know: Part one  

Aerotime

Before the aircraft begins to move, on the left-hand ( port ) side of the aircraft you may also notice the ground crew waving a thin red flag at the captain (who always sits, aviation convention dictates, in the left-hand seat in the cockpit of fixed-wing aircraft).

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Fagen Fighters’ Helldiver Soars Again!

Vintage Aviation News

This is consistent with the theory, as a displaced torpedo would have bulged the bomb bay doors, which wind resistance could then have pealed back – leading to a rapid increase in drag preventing the aircraft from gaining altitude at sufficient speed. The Helldiver’s wing center section at the crash site. photo via Kevin R.

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Power-off Stall: Recovery Steps Made Easy

Pilot Institute

So when you’re in the cockpit, you’ll know exactly what to do. When the aircraft is in a high-drag configuration, a stall at a low altitude can be quite dangerous. Landing flaps add a lot of drag; removing this notch will help the aircraft accelerate quickly. Why Practice Power-off Stalls?

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