The wonder of aviation technology has consistently captured human imagination. From the Wright brothers' first powered flight to the advanced aircraft of today, one fundamental element has remained unchanged–aircraft wings. These wings play a crucial role in aviation by providing the necessary lift needed to raise and sustain aircraft in flight. In this blog, we will delve into the fundamentals of how aircraft wings work, exploring concepts like Angle of Attack (AOA), fluid flow, and even their similarities to rotor blades.

Before the introduction of the Airbus A320 family of planes, all aircraft had a central yoke in their cockpits. The original yoke was a two-handed tool which pilots could use to manually control the aircraft’s functions. Then in 1985, Airbus designed the first commercial airliner with a side stick in place of the central yoke. Up until that point, fighter jets were the only ones using side stick navigation. Now, nearly all modern Airbus aircraft use side sticks, while Boeing has committed to keeping the central yoke. After this, if you are curious what is the difference between these configurations, simply read on as we discuss the ways in which they vary.

Flight instruments are crucial elements of aircraft, allowing pilots to maintain readings on various flight parameters such as altitude, attitude, airspeed, and more. Having measurements on such characteristics is paramount as it ensures that optimal flight paths are followed and hazards avoided. For this to be upheld, all instruments must function correctly and with ample accuracy. When one wishes to test their instruments for their performance, apparatuses known as air data test systems (ADTS) are used.