Flight

World War I

Date: From July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918 Definition: An international conflict, resulting from growing tensions within Europe and increasing German dominance over the region. Significance: World War I, the first truly global conflict, was also the first war in which rapidly developing aviation technology allowed for the widespread use of fighter planes and […]

Winnie Mae

Definition: The name of the record-setting Lockheed Vega airplane that was flown by Wiley Post from 1930 to 1935. Significance: Piloted by Post, the Winnie Mae, the most aerodynamically advanced aircraft of its time, made two record breaking around-the-world flights and pioneered stratospheric flight. The Winnie Mae now resides in the National Air and Space […]

Winglets

Definition: Small, wing like devices mounted at the tips of wings. Significance: Winglets are used to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of a wing by using the flow around the wingtip to create a thrust. They can improve airplane performance by as much as 10 to 15 percent. Winglets, sometimes known as Whitcomb winglets, after their […]

Wind tunnels

Definition: Flow channels through which air or another gas is passed over a model of an aircraft or other object to study the effects of the airflow on the forces acting on the aircraft model. Significance: Wind tunnels are vital to the design and development of any aircraft. They permit the measurement of pressures and […]

Wing designs

Definition: Any of a variety of wing shapes, which provide the lift needed for an airplane to fly and ensure optimum performance in the designated mission of a particular aircraft. Significance: The most significant part of an airplane, wings generate the lift an airplane needs to overcome its weight and maneuver in flight. Wings can […]

Wing-walking

Also known as: Daredevils, stunt fliers, air circus Date: The 1920′s Definition: A feature attraction in early air shows, in which a performer stepped out of an airplane’s cockpit and onto its wing while the airplane was in flight. Significance: Like the barnstormers, wing-walkers and other aviation daredevils helped popularize airplanes and the concept of […]

Wind shear

Definition: A change in wind direction or speed, either vertically or horizontally, within a short distance in the atmosphere. Significance: Wind shear is a concern in all phases of flight. Strong wind shear close to the ground can be especially hazardous to aircraft. Wind shear is a gradient, which means it exhibits a specific change […]

Wind-powered flight

Definition: All manner of flight that is not powered by any mechanical or electrical source of energy. Wind-powered flight can be in an aerostat, which is a lighter-than-air aircraft such as a gas-filled balloon, or in an aerodyne, which is a heavier-than-air craft such as a glider. Significance: All modern aircraft has its origins in […]

Richard Whitcomb

Date: Born on February 21,1921, in Evanston, Illinois Definition: An aeronautical engineer who designed wing shapes for supersonic jets after World War II. Significance: Whitcomb developed and built wind tunnels in which he could test various jet wing designs at speeds approaching the speed of sound. His experiments led to the discovery and application of […]

Weather conditions

Definition: The changing physical conditions in the earth’s atmosphere. Significance: The amount and the location of heat, cold, wind, clouds, and precipitation affects the ability of all forms of flight to perform safely in the atmosphere. Introduction to Weather Weather is necessary to life on earth. The significant force that creates and drives weather is […]

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →