Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

The exhaust coming out of aircraft engines looks pretty dangerous, generating huge amounts of thrust and pushing back tons of hot air. This horizontal component of lift is called Induced Drag. Its called induced drag since it only exists as a consequence of lift. If youre generating lift, youre stuck with induced drag as well.

Turbulence 97

Turbulence Lift Drag Runway 97

Air Facts

JULY 22, 2024

Each day, 12 students spent two hours in a fabrication hangar where they cut/folded/riveted a sheet of aluminum into a wing component. The Four Forces of Flight (Lift, Thrust, Drag & Gravity) obey Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. Young Aviators got students interested in aviation and STEM. Two hours were allocated to flying.

Lift 98

Lift Knot Airfoil Airplanes 98

Jetwhine

JANUARY 17, 2024

The L–39’s Fowler flaps are clearly visible during the preflight inside Gauntlet Warbird’s hangar at Aurora Municipal Airport (left). ” The 3,800-pound-thrust Ukrainian-built AI25-TL engine needs an air-assisted start provided by the onboard Sapphire APU.

Knot 52

Knot Rudder Pilot Jet 52

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Powered by two Rolls-Royce Avon Turbojet 301R engines, mounted in a staggered arrangement, the Lightnings engines produced 32,720 pounds of thrust with full reheat, roughly equivalent to 80,000 horsepower. This arrangement also reduced drag by 25% compared to a conventional engine setup.

Jet 119

Jet Drag Runway Thrust 119

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

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.

Airplanes 80

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 80