Keeping an aircraft flying in the air was not readily understood in the early days of aviation. These days, during flight training, pilots are taught that an airplane needs a minimum amount of speed for the wings to generate enough lift to get airborne, climb and stay aloft. A large part of pilot training is dedicated to recognize and act properly on these conditions.
This section takes a look at the requirements for lift and what the pilot or crew can do to influence or change to increase the amount of lift needed to fly at slower speeds to be able to land safely.
Aircraft Speeds |
|
In this section we delve into the different kinds of speeds a pilot needs to keep in mind while flying. Best glide or minimum sink speeds should an engine fail during flight and which speed he/she can use to climb as fast or as steep as possible to clear obstacles in the flight path. For example: maintaining airspeed below maneuvering speed is mandatory should the aircraft inadvertently enter turbulent air. |
|
Lift & Stall Effects |
|
How exactly does a wing generate lift? This often asked question gets answered here together with several methods the pilot can use to increase the lift to be able to fly even slower for landing. Flaps, slats and vortex generators are a large part of the subjects here. We also discuss what happens during the stall and possible spin entry when the airplane was out of balance during the stall exercise. |
|
Experimental Aircraft Info
