Category: Aviation knowledge and operations

Flying Swing Wing (MiG23/27): My Experience

Anil Goyal

What is a Variable Sweep Wing aircraft? A variable-sweep wing, colloquially known as a “swing-wing”, is an airplane wing, that may be swept back and then returned to its original position during flight. It allows the aircraft’s shape to be modified in flight and is therefore an example of a variable-geometry aircraft. Typically, a swept wing is more suitable for high speeds, while an unswept wing is suitable for lower speeds improving field (take-off and landing) performance. A variable-sweep wing allows a pilot to select the correct wing configuration for the plane’s intended…

MiG 21: Love her OR Hate her?

Anil Goyal

The most widely produced supersonic jet fighter of all time, the MiG-21 (Western reporting name Fishbed) is an incredibly prolific aircraft. Dated but nimble, it has allowed skilled pilots in past decades to defeat more advanced aircraft. Though its days look to be numbered. To me, it does not. I think it will continue to live in the heart of pilots and adversaries alike for decades to come. Single-seat, single-engine, supersonic, all-weather, day-night capable, jet fighter aircraft produced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau was an improvement on prior generations of…

What pilots should know about circuit breakers and the risk of resetting tripped CB?

Anil Goyal

I was recently asked to re-cycle PA system CB on ground by the engineering staff as the system was not working. Without giving it a second thought I did that and the system was working again. Subsequently this made me think. Is this normal? But then what about tripped CBs? What are circuit breakers? The single most “proliferated” item of the electrical system in a modern cockpit is the circuit breaker. These round black heads line the cockpit’s walls and ceiling. AC or DC, ganged, multi- or single-pole, they control,…