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Designs with a twist |
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Training TipsDesigns with a twist
What controllability characteristics does your trainer exhibit as it approaches the critical angle of attack, and during stall recovery? What you experience during practice is the result of how another angle—this one a fixed design feature of your aircraft’s wing—works to affect flight characteristics.
This design feature is the wing’s angle of incidence, defined as “the angle formed by the chord line of the wing and a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the airplane.”
A desirable feature of a wing is for it to stall at the root before the wingtip. Why is that a plus?
This excerpt from an AOPA review of the Piper PA-28-161 Warrior explains, noting how the Warrior’s wing employs “washout” of the wing’s angle of incidence to achieve the desired stall characteristic: “Stand at the wingtip and sight down the leading edge, and you’ll notice that the leading edge twists slightly downward near the tip. This decrease in the angle of incidence means that even when the wing root area has stalled, the outer portion of the wing continues to generate lift and the ailerons remain effective. All of that means the airplane is more controllable in an aerodynamic stall.”
Other aircraft get the same result through different means. AOPA reported that the composite Cirrus SR20's wing incorporates a cuff on the leading edge to influence airflow: “The cuff causes the air flowing over the ailerons to remain ‘attached’ to the wing at very high angles of attack. As a result, the ailerons remain effective even after the inboard portions of the wing have stalled.” Flight Training NewsStaying alive: Survival training for after a ditchingShivering and panting in the waters just off the Southern California coast, AOPA Editor—Web Sarah Brown gripped the white straps of the life raft ladder, found the lowest rung with her foot, and paused. Her heart was still racing from hitting the 65-degree water—warm by ocean standards, but cool enough to trigger the gasping reflex and rapid heartbeat of cold shock response—and she knew she must stay calm. Brown pulled hard, leaned forward, and splashed head first onto the floor of the raft. Read more >> 20-year-old wins free aviation trip to FranceTwenty-year-old Jennifer Guetterman is the winner of a free trip to France to participate in the Tour Aérien Des Jeunes Pilotes. The event was created to motivate the next generation of pilots and promote general aviation to the public. AOPA is partnering with the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations and the Fédération Française Aéronautique to send an American pilot to the race, paying for the pilot’s roundtrip airfare to France, airplane rental for the race, fuel, lodging, and basic meals. Read more >> Play time! Five aviation game appsThis July Fourth weekend, take time for fun with these five aviation game apps: Flight Unlimited Las Vegas, X-Plane Airshow, Pocket Planes, Air Wings, and PicaSim: Free flight simulator. Read more >> USAeroTech receives retired Boeing 727 from FedExUSAeroTech, an FAA-certified aviation maintenance technical training institute, has received a retired Boeing 727-200 cargo aircraft from FedEx. The aircraft arrived on June 19, and will be used to train students at the USAeroTech facility. Colorado school district launches aviation STEM programColorado's Aspen School District has launched the AERO AV8R program for students from kindergarten to twelfth grade, reports the Aspen Times. The program will use aviation as a base to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and show students aviation career possibilities. Flight instructors: eFIRC is hereBuilding on the success of current compelling and enlightening safety products, the Air Safety Institute has launched its new electronic flight instructor refresher course (eFIRC). Easy to use, designed from the ground up with mobile devices in mind, and with simple online processing (no trip to a notary or flight standards district office required!) that gets you renewed faster, the Air Safety Institute’s eFIRC provides CFIs the informative content you expect, and is easier than ever. Learn more and register online. Is it really as simple as ‘push this, go faster?’As pilots, we spend a lot of time learning about aerodynamics and manipulating the forces of flight, but we don’t spend much time studying what gets us aloft in the first place: our propulsion system. In the Air Safety Institute’s Engine and Propeller online course, you’ll dig deep under the cowling and learn how what you do with the throttle and prop control really translates into what’s going on beyond the firewall. Log in to take the course (requires a Flash player) >> ScholarshipsWomen in Corporate Aviation announces scholarships for 2013Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) will offer eight scholarships worth more than $44,000 for those who wish to further their careers in corporate aviation in areas including flight training, maintenance, crew emergency procedures, flight attendant training, aircraft dispatcher training, department management, and career development. Scholarship opportunities have been donated by major players in the industry, including Gulfstream Aerospace, Universal Weather and Aviation, CAE SimuFlite, Aircare FACTS, and MedAire. Applications are due by Aug. 31. Miami Dade College announces new scholarship programMiami Dade College's Homestead campus has announced the creation of a new scholarship in honor of the late Timothy E. Johnson Jr., an aviation enthusiast and a volunteer for the Pilots N Paws program. Under the program, a flight scholarship will be given to those interested in becoming commercial pilots who might not otherwise be able to afford the expense. NBAA offers aviation scholarshipsThe National Business Aviation Association is offering a series of aviation scholarships. The $5,000 Alan H. Conklin Business Aviation Management Scholarship is given to an undergraduate student who is officially enrolled in an aviation management program at a University Aviation Association (UAA) member school. Two $2,500 William M. Fanning Maintenance Scholarships are given to students who are currently enrolled in an accredited airframe and powerplant (A&P) program at an approved federal aviation regulation Part 147 school or to an individual who currently is not enrolled but has been accepted for enrollment in an A&P program. The Lawrence Ginocchio Aviation Scholarship gives away five $4,500 scholarships to undergraduate students who are enrolled at NBAA/UAA-member institutions. All applications are due by July 31. CP Aviation offers aerobatics scholarshipSanta Paula, Calif.-based CP Aviation has created an aerobatics scholarship in memory of Vicki Cruse, an aerobatic competitor and member of the U.S. National Aerobatic Team, among other things. Two scholarships will be given to CFIs who are under 25 and want to become qualified to teach aerobatics. The scholarship includes a full ride at the Greg Koontz Air Shows school for four days of lessons in the Super Decathlon with meals and lodging included. EAA names Gathering of Eagles scholarship recipientsThe Experimental Aircraft Association has named six recipients of its 2013 Gathering of Eagles flight training scholarships, led by Samantha Horne of Kissimmee, Fla., who received a $7,500 scholarship. Six $1,500 runner-up scholarships were awarded to use toward flight training. Gathering of Eagles scholarships, available to Young Eagles who complete the Sporty's Learn to Fly online course, are funded by monies raised at the annual fundraiser held during EAA AirVenture. San Diego Air & Space Museum awards youth scholarshipsThe San Diego Air & Space Museum awarded $11,000 in scholarships during its first annual Fly Your Ride! competition. Ten scholarship prizes were awarded to teams of middle and high school students who designed and built flying cars. The museum received 50 middle school entries and more than 90 high school entries, which was narrowed to 17 teams competing in the middle school finals and 20 teams competing in the high school finals. CABA scholarship winner earns type rating, promotionThe Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) has announced that Jeremy Knight has taken a job as a charter pilot with a local company after completing his Citation 500 type rating through the organization's scholarship program. Knight received a CABA scholarship, sponsored by Dallas-based CAE SimuFlite, in 2012. Reminder: Organizations offer aviation scholarshipsThe Arthur Godfrey Aviation Foundation is offering two scholarships for private pilot, sport pilot, or airframe and powerplant certification. Applicants aged 16 to 20 can be awarded up to $10,000. Applications are due by Sept. 1. The National Agriculture Aviation Association (NAAA) is accepting applications for its 2013 scholarships. Up to $7,500 will be available to the recipient or recipients who use the proceeds for flight training or agricultural coursework at a university, college, or community college, with applications due by Aug. 31. Erickson Air-Crane is funding a $6,000 annual Whirly-Girls scholarship to fund a full external load/vertical reference course at Western Helicopters in Rialto, Calif. Applications are due by Oct. 1. The International Council of Air Shows Foundation is offering aviation scholarships to help pilots, aircraft mechanics, performers, and flight instructors with their training needs. Applications are due by Dec. 31. Training ResourcesAir Safety Institute offers video on midair collisionsAOPA Foundation President and safety expert Bruce Landsberg talks about the causes of midair collisions and what pilots can do to reduce the risk of a collision. This segment first appeared on AOPA Live This Week. Watch the video >>
Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time) or from Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you’re not already a member, join today and get the pilot’s edge. Login information is available online.
Vietnam icon keeps history aliveThey’re an icon of the Vietnam War. Forty years later, Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopters are keeping history alive and allowing closure for veterans. Also, follow a group of high school students as they build two Glasair Sportsman aircraft. These teens took the kit from parts to taxiing in just two weeks. And check out the new online flight instructor refresher course from the Air Safety Institute. As of publication time, AOPA Live producers were finalizing this week's episode. Check back on the AOPA Live page for the latest edition that will be available July 4. Career PilotUnited becomes 787-10 North American launch customerUnited Airlines increased its 787 Dreamliner order to 65 aircraft, including six previously delivered aircraft, June 18 with an order for 20 787-10s. United is the North American launch customer for the 787-10 and it expects delivery of its first aircraft in 2018. United ordered 10 incremental 787-10 aircraft and will convert 10 existing 787s on order to 787-10s, enabling the airline to further modernize its international widebody fleet by replacing older, less efficient aircraft. United had previous orders for an additional 49 Dreamliners consisting of both the -8 and -9 variants; the 787-10 is a stretched version of the 787-9. Horizon to add more Q400 turbopropsBombardier Aerospace announced June 18 that Seattle-based Horizon Air has signed a firm contract to acquire three 76-seat Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners, converting previously booked options on the aircraft. The airline also reconfirmed its options on another seven Q400 NextGen aircraft. Based on the list price of the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the contract is valued at approximately $98 million. The three new aircraft increase Horizon Air's orders for Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners to 51 aircraft. "The addition of these three Q400 NextGen aircraft will allow us to venture into the state of Alaska, which is considered America's last frontier, and is now an exciting new frontier for Horizon," said Glenn Johnson, Horizon Air president.
For more aviation career news, see the Flight Training website. Plane SpotterBound to make waves: Dornier Seastar
Training ProductsNew e-book on landings releasedCFI Jason Schappert has released his new e-book, The Secret To A Perfect Landing, where he offers 100 pages of content and four hours of in-flight video going through the traffic pattern. The e-book covers normal, crosswind, short-field, and soft-field landings. Customers can pay $27 for the e-book and videos or get them for free in return for posting a video testimonial. Sporty’s course helps with cockpit communicationsIn the comprehensive DVD-based program VFR Communications from Sporty’s, users can sound like a seasoned pro on the radio. The DVD includes study on communications, covering air traffic control, nontowered fields, and emergency situations; detailed scenarios covering every aspect of arriving and departing Class B, C, and D airspace; and hearing pilots make real communications, enhanced with detailed graphics and audio transcriptions. The cost is $34.95.
Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors. Member BenefitsAdvice for completing MedXPressThe FAA Application for Airman Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate (FAA Form 8500-8) online version is one of the most maligned federal applications. Check out these tips to make filling it out easier. Read more >> BlogsTesting positiveIn the film Flight, Denzel Washington’s character performs a heroic feat to save a planeload of passengers only to lose his career to his drug and alcohol addictions. Is it possible that someone could get away with this problem as long as Whip Whitaker did? Read more >> AOPA Career OpportunitiesEver dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We’re looking for a new business account manager II, renewal account manager II, aircraft analyst, director of corporate partnerships, marketing specialist, human resources assistant, software test and quality assurance analyst, and AOPA Live editor/graphic artist. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online. Community
AVIATION EVENTS & WEATHER
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As your aircraft moves through the air, the angle of attack—that is, the angle between the chord line of its wing and the relative wind—produces lift and drag that the pilot harnesses to achieve the desired flight profile. Student pilots learn that exceeding the critical angle of attack produces an 
IFR Fix: Taming task saturation
