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Why Aircraft Need Vertical Stabilizers, But Birds Don't

Simple Flying

Aircraft are fitted with wingtip devices, generally known as winglets or sharklets, to minimize aerodynamic drag and increase fuel efficiency, and state-of-the-art engines reduce sound and wear and tear. Significant advances in aviation technology have occurred over the last few decades.

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Stabilized Approaches

Plane and Pilot

However, the capstone of all these efforts was the adoption of stabilized approach criteria and procedures on every approach and landing. So, What Is a Stabilized Approach? In fact, the verbal callout “stabilized” is part of the checklist. This definitely does not meet the FAA description of a stabilized approach and landing.

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The Bold, Bulbous Douglas 1015 Cloudster II

Flying Magazine

READ MORE: Interstate TDR Developed as Unusual Kamikaze Machine Moulton Taylor, the designer of the similarly configured roadable “Aerocar” that would fly a couple of years later, added that at idle a propeller mounted to the extreme aft end of the fuselage has the effect of an anti-spin drag chute, adding stability and aiding recovery from spins.

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The Unfulfilled Promise of the Fairchild T-46

Flying Magazine

The most significant visual differences were the T-46’s high wing and the “H” tail, with twin vertical stabilizers mounted to the ends of the horizontal stabilizer that strongly resembled those of the company’s previous jet, the A-10 Thunderbolt II. As outlined in a U.S.

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Today in Aviation History: First flight of the Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing

Vintage Aviation News

Air Force photo) Devil’s in the Details The YB-49 design aimed to create a highly efficient aircraft with low drag by its rare all-wing configuration. However, the design faced major stability issues under various flight conditions, and after the two tragic incidents, it took another 41 years for the flying wing concept to see success.

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High Wing or Low Wing – Which Trainer Should I Choose?

Flight Training Central

Those struts and wires create a lot of parasite drag, an anathema for aircraft whose design and mission is speed. Short field landings can be shorter because the drag robbing ground effect is lessened by the greater distance between the wing and ground. The bi-wing design has one serious flaw.

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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. These drawbacks included the intubate propeller design, which induced so much aerodynamic drag, and also the aircraft’s top speed proved to be only 81 mph.

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