Remove Descent Remove Drag Remove Ground Effect
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What Is Ground Effect?

Pilot Institute

It’s not magic—it’s ground effect. When you’re flying near the ground, within one wingspan, the aerodynamic forces start to change. Your wings don’t create as much drag as they would at higher altitudes, which gives you extra lift. Ground effect is a phenomenon that every pilot must master.

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How to Make a Perfect Soft Field Landing Every Time

Pilot Institute

However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. Hold this extra power as you enter ground effect. Low-wing aircraft perform better in ground effect because of the wing’s proximity to the ground. High-wing aircraft might need more power or pitch to arrest the descent.

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How to Master Slow Flight (Step-By-Step)

Pilot Institute

Drag : The aerodynamic force opposing the aircraft’s forward motion. This increases lift but comes at the cost of increased induced drag. Pilots must counteract the additional drag with more thrust to maintain altitude. Later flap stages add mostly drag. The gear adds lots of drag but zero lift.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Convair F-106 Delta Dart

Vintage Aviation News

Foust did everything in his training to try and recover from the spin, including deploying his plane’s drag chute. ” After briefly entering the ground effect, F-106A 58-0787 mad an unpiloted, wheels-up landing in a frozen wheatfield outside Big Sandy, Montana.

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Nothing Small About It

Plane and Pilot

Winging It Aside from the aforementioned desire for a greater aspect ratio for reduced drag, the one-piece Gweduck wing was developed for minimal weight, ease of construction and benign handling. Keeping drag corralled was emphasized as the Gweduck mission is foremost long-distance cruising. Maintenance room is generally very good.