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Ask an Explainer

Q:

What happens if a plane brakes in the air?

A:

Comercial planes don't have brakes like cars or bikes, so they won't just stop in midair. Instead, to slow down, the pilot can put up the flaps, or spoilers, which decrease the lift, so the plane will slowly decend back down to earth. These are very useful during landing to stop the landing gear from skidding.

Ask an Explainer
Posted on December 29, 2013 at 9:36 am
Categories:
Flight Dynamics
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