Technicalities

Prevalence of biplanes over monoplanes was due almost entirely to practical considerations.

A 45-year-old essay about ‘Carson Speed’ became a point of reference for the wonkier class of pilot.

Gear warning systems in many airplanes are imperfect for several reasons.

Slotted flaps, hinged or tracked, add a separate source of lift.

Schneider Trophy air races led the way to a place where no one goes.

They’re not just some added lateral area—they’re a vortex generator.

Other designs all chose to pin the tail on the airplane.

There are many implausible claims about airspeed that should be understood.

What is going to the airplane engine is more like froth than fuel.

Designing an accurate angle-of-attack system represents only half the challenge.