Pilot's Life Blog

MARCH 15, 2024

Generate Lift With Airplane Wings One of the most valuable airplane parts that connect to the fuselage is the wings. The wings work with other sections of an aircraft to increase lift and adjust stalling speed. Wing flaps: Located on the trailing edges of the wings, the flaps are movable surfaces that help overcome drag.

Horizontal Stabilizer 52

Horizontal Stabilizer Aileron Air Traffic Control Lift 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Key Takeaways Ailerons control the aircrafts roll by adjusting lift on each wing. The aircrafts wing is able to generate lift due to its shape. The more the wings shape is able to change the direction of the flow of air over the surface, the more lift it will produce. Why does this increase the lift? How Do Ailerons Work?

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

The outer wing generates more lift than the inner wing since it’s temporarily moving faster. Extra lift makes the wing rise. Increased lift on the raised wing immediately creates more induced drag. What’s induced drag? The higher drag on the raised wing reduces its speed relative to the lower wing.

Stability 52

Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

As air flows over it, a force like lift results, and the tail is pulled in the opposite direction of the deflection. But instead of an upward force of lift on a wing, it’s a horizontal force pushing the tail of the plane causing the nose of the plane to move left and right. Why is this? This is called adverse yaw.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

And ice doesn’t just make things slippery, it messes with the airflow over the wings, cuts down on lift, and ramps up drag. Remember that wings, propeller blades, and tail surfaces are airfoil-shaped. This leads to a serious loss of lift and an increase in drag.

Pitot Tube 52

Pitot Tube Drag Lift Airfoil 52

Vintage Aviation News

JULY 23, 2024

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.

Cockpit 130

Cockpit Runway Drag Pilot 130

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

Most of the time, I would turn the floatplane setting the tails of the floats onto the shore in order to make our departure a simple matter of climbing in, starting the engine, and with a burst of throttle, sliding into the deeper water and going about our day. In short order, we loaded our gear and beat a hasty retreat back to Ketchikan.

Airplanes 86

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 86

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

Most of the time, I would turn the floatplane setting the tails of the floats onto the shore in order to make our departure a simple matter of climbing in, starting the engine, and with a burst of throttle, sliding into the deeper water and going about our day. In short order, we loaded our gear and beat a hasty retreat back to Ketchikan.

Airplanes 84

Airplanes Torque Tail Pilot 84

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 11, 2024

However, this wasn’t the only unique thing about Cierva Twin; it was outstanding in its class for the following reasons – Coaxial Rotor System – This design eliminated the need for a tail rotor, reducing mechanical complexity and increasing lift efficiency. This allowed for more stability and control, especially in hover.

Tail 52

Tail Drag Ceiling Cargo 52

Fear of Landing

MARCH 22, 2024

Gradually used to replace metals on parts of aircraft tails, wings, engines, cowlings, and parts of the fuselage, composites reduce overall aircraft weight and improve operational efficiency. Area Rule In the 1950s, NASA scientist Richard Whitcomb discovered several fundamental solutions to key aerodynamics challenges.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Airfoil Drag Airline 52

Chess In the Air

JULY 4, 2022

Most western pilots have patiently worked such lift for an hour or more while waiting for conditions to improve near their destination airport. Dust devils and other extreme lifting motions can also cause havoc near the surface. If that happens, the propeller causes a lot of extra drag, comparable to half-extended airbrakes.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear AGL Lift Runway 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. Make sure not to pull back too hard, or you could cause a tail strike. This does two things: it keeps the load on the wings and increases drag. The sudden loss of lift can cause the wheels to dig into the ground. Similarly, do not reduce flaps.

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 5, 2024

A sideslip approach creates excess drag and requires more control inputs. But remember, the crosswind you just battled is still hitting the aircraft’s wing and tail. A bounce or skip is likely if the aircraft lands while the wing is generating significant lift. The crab method is the most comfortable way to fly the approach.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Longitudinal Axis Aileron Rudder 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

With nothing left to lift it, the core has nowhere else to go but down. When you fly into a microburst on approach or departure, youll first encounter a strong headwind, which will give you a brief lift. Without enough altitude or time to react, the aircraft can lose lift and crash before you can recover. Dont lower the nose!

Wind Shear 66

Wind Shear Weather Descent Approach 66

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

True, a slightly higher aspect ratio wing was desired, which in turn required a larger vertical tail and thus a little extra mass, but the size, approximately 20% larger than a Widgeon, was set. The airfoil is a Harry Riblett shape, giving modernized flow separation on the leading edge for a soft stall yet with good lift and drag performance.

Airplanes 80

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 80

Vintage Aviation News

JUNE 24, 2024

The soft sand, now closed to beachgoers, would be insufficient to hold the weight of any crane with the capacity to lift the plane from the water. So, the decision was made to attach cables to the aircraft and drag its tail first onto the beach, but this was not accomplished until the next day once recovery equipment could be mobilized.

Drag 111

Drag Lift Tail Pilot 111