XKCD: Airfoil
Are you able to answer this students question? Why *can* airplanes fly upside down if this is how an airfoil works. Or better yet: Why does the air above the airfoil have to meet up with the air below the airfoil?
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Incipient Spin Caused By Engine Failure
“…If the engine fails on take-off with insufficient runway remaining, I will trim the aircraft for best glide and try to land withing 30° of the runway centreline.” Ahh, the take-off briefing! This particular line is an important one. It’s not advisable to try to turn around after an engine failure on take-off. This video…
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Calculating G-Forces in a Turn
A while back I posed the question “Does an airplane in 45° bank experience more G forces than a slower one?” The quick answer: No. The G forces (or load factor) on the aircraft does not change based on the speed you are flying. The equation to calculate load factor (n) is as follows: Where…
