spoilers

In flight, spoilers used symmetrically act as a speedbrake for a steeper descent or a faster deceleration; used asymmetrically they assist roll. On landing, the ground spoilers deploy fully the instant the wheels are loaded, dumping lift so the weight goes onto the wheels and the brakes can work. The full deployment on touchdown is the most dramatic thing a wing does and is worth a burst of frames.

Nearby in Aviation

• slats — Movable surfaces at the leading edge of the wing that extend to let the wing fly at a higher angle of attack.
• special livery — A one-off or limited paint scheme applied to a single aircraft rather than the whole fleet.
• squawk — The four-digit transponder code a controller assigns an aircraft so its radar return can be identified.
• stall — The loss of lift that occurs when a wing exceeds its critical angle of attack.