When you’re seated by a window on an airliner during landing, you might notice a part of the wing moving—extending downward more and more as the plane approaches the runway. These moving parts are called flaps. Although not every aircraft is equipped with flaps, many do have them, including smaller general aviation planes like the Piper Arrow. Flaps play an essential role in controlling lift and drag, especially during critical phases of flight such as landing and takeoff. Th
