Dive brake
Encyclopedia
Dive brakes or dive flaps are deployed to slow down an aircraft when in a dive. They usually consist of a metal flap that is raised against the air flow, thus creating drag
and reducing dive speed.
In the past dive brakes were mostly used on dive bomber
s, which needed to dive very steeply, but not exceed their red line speed
in order to drop their bombs accurately. Dive brakes are often fitted to the bottom surfaces of glider
wings as companion controls to top-surface-mounted spoilers
. Most modern combat aircraft are equipped with air brakes
, which perform the same function as dive brakes.
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
and reducing dive speed.
In the past dive brakes were mostly used on dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
s, which needed to dive very steeply, but not exceed their red line speed
V speeds
In aviation, V-speeds are standard terms used to define airspeeds important or useful to the operation of all aircraft including fixed-wing aircraft, gliders, autogiros, helicopters, and dirigibles...
in order to drop their bombs accurately. Dive brakes are often fitted to the bottom surfaces of glider
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
wings as companion controls to top-surface-mounted spoilers
Spoiler (aeronautics)
In aeronautics, a spoiler is a device intended to reduce lift in an aircraft. Spoilers are plates on the top surface of a wing which can be extended upward into the airflow and spoil it. By doing so, the spoiler creates a carefully controlled stall over the portion of the wing behind it, greatly...
. Most modern combat aircraft are equipped with air brakes
Air brake (aircraft)
In aeronautics, air brakes or speedbrakes are a type of flight control surface used on an aircraft to increase drag or increase the angle of approach during landing....
, which perform the same function as dive brakes.
Applications
- Douglas SBD Dauntless
- Junkers Ju-87 Stuka
- Nelson Hummingbird PG-185BNelson Hummingbird PG-185B|-See also:...
- Schweizer 2-33