Aero Fact: Why Winglets Reduce Drag
Winglets mitigate wingtip vortices and reduce induced drag, improving fuel burn.
Aviation Facts & Information
Aero Fact: What Is Service Ceiling?
The altitude at which the rate of climb drops to a specified minimum.
Aero Fact: Why Rockets Stage?
Staging improves mass fraction and delta-v by discarding empty hardware.
Aero Fact: Mach Number vs. True Airspeed
At high altitude, IAS drops while TAS and Mach diverge due to air density changes.
Aero Fact: Critical Mach Number
The lowest free-stream Mach at which local airflow first reaches sonic speed on the airframe.
Aero Fact: Why Sweep Wings?
Swept wings delay compressibility effects and reduce wave drag at transonic speeds.
Aero Fact: Stall Speed and Weight
Stall speed increases with aircraft weight due to lift coefficient and load factor.
Aero Fact: Boundary Layer Types
Laminar vs. turbulent boundary layers change skin friction and separation behavior.
Aero Fact: Specific Impulse (Isp)
Isp measures thrust per unit propellant flow—higher Isp means more efficient engines.
Aero Fact: Thrust-to-Weight Ratio
A key performance metric for both aircraft and rockets affecting acceleration and climb.
Aero Fact: Load Factor (g)
Bank angle directly increases load factor, impacting stall speed and structural limits.
Aero Fact: Delta-v Budget
Mission planning revolves around total delta-v required including gravity and drag losses.