The first step to growing as a safe and competent pilot is to fully understand how an aircraft works. This includes understanding every part of an airplane, especially its control surfaces and how they affect performance. Fully comprehending the ways in which various sections of the airplane affect aerodynamics, as well as how the laws …
Every single piece of an aircraft has an intended purpose. These incredible machines are put together with such detail and precision in order to make air travel as safe and effective as it is. The purpose of aircraft spoilers on a plane is no exception. They may not be attached to keep the plane in …
There is a lot of power behind a jet engine – enough to get it into the sky and stay there. Though when it is in the midst of takeoff, the aircraft can benefit from a little extra boost. That is where high-lift devices, such as Fowler flaps, come in. Located on the wing, flaps …
Turboprops play a significant role in aviation, often used for regional or short-haul flights. The power behind these small to mid-sized aircraft may seem a bit basic, but it is actually quite complex and note-worthy. Here we will take a closer look at turboprops, how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, and why they continuously …
If you are considering a career in aviation – whether as a pilot, or A&P mechanic – you will need to learn the different airplane parts and their function. This guide discusses the main parts of aircraft, and why they are important. [lwptoc numeration=”none” skipHeadingLevel=”h3″ skipHeadingText=”Share This:”] When it comes to careers in aviation, there …
If an airplane has wings, why does it need winglets? Airplane winglets are the “baby wings” placed at an angle at the end of airplane wing. Most modern passenger jets have winglets. They became a staple of the aircraft industry the 1980’s when concern about oil prices pushed increased research into their feasibility. Buoyed by …
As our understanding of lift and basic aeronautical principals has improved and changed, so has the design of airplane wings. Wing design is an incredibly important aspect of aeronautical engineering. Now that computer software and advanced wind tunnel technology are aiding in the development of wing design, we are better able to understand how to …
Understanding the basic aerodynamics of how an airplane’s control surfaces work is a major part of safely commanding it both on the ground and in the air. When you have a good grasp of these principles, both abstractly as well as while acting as pilot in command, you are better equipped to make sound decisions …
When someone says the word “airplane,” a lot of different visuals might come to mind—the 1903 Wright Flyer (the world’s first airplane), a World War II fighter, or a huge passenger jet with a modern cockpit. The fantastic part about aviation is that all of these images apply. Since it landed on a runway like …