landing flap
Noun: A hinged or movable section on the trailing edge of an aircraft's wing, specifically designed to be extended downward during the landing phase. Its primary function is to increase both drag and lift at low speeds, which allows the aircraft to fly more slowly and steeply without stalling, thereby facilitating a safer and slower approach for landing.
The term "landing flap" is used specifically in the context of aviation to describe a critical flight control surface. It is a type of high-lift device. - The pilot extended the landing flaps to configure the aircraft for its final approach. - A malfunction in the landing flap system can require an emergency landing procedure. - During the pre-landing checklist, "landing flaps set" is a standard confirmation.
- Flap Settings: Pilots often refer to specific degrees of extension, such as "landing flaps at 30 degrees" or "full landing flaps."
- Go-Around Procedure: If a landing is aborted, a standard procedure includes retracting the landing flaps to a lesser setting (like "flaps 20") during the climb-out to reduce drag while maintaining necessary lift.
- Flap (n.): A more general term for any hinged surface on an aircraft's wing used for high-lift or control. "Landing flap" is a specific type of flap.
- Leading-edge flap (n.): A flap located on the front (leading edge) of the wing, often used in conjunction with trailing-edge landing flaps.
- Slat (n.): A similar high-lift device on the wing's leading edge.
- Spoiler (n.): A surface that disrupts lift to increase drag or aid in rolling; functionally distinct from a landing flap, though sometimes confused.
- Trailing-edge flap: A technical synonym, specifying the flap's location on the rear edge of the wing.
- High-lift device: A broader category that includes landing flaps, slats, and other systems.
- To lower/extend the flaps: The action of deploying the landing flaps.
- To retract the flaps: The action of pulling the landing flaps back into the wing after takeoff or during a go-around.
- Flap overspeed: A dangerous condition where landing flaps are extended at a speed higher than the aircraft's design limits.
- a flap on the underside of the wing that is lowered to slow the plane for landing