What could be simpler than wing flaps ? But not all designs work the same and each has it quirks. Here's how to get the most out of the type you're flying. For many pilots, wing flaps are those things we only use in the pattern; we deploy them at regular intervals when the airspeed is in the white arc as we fly a traffic pattern. Some airplanes require their use on takeoff, or for maximum-performance on less-than-ideal runways. But the many different kinds of flaps installed on personal airplanes have specific characteristics—both good ones and bad. Unless a pilot understands those characteristics and how to use the flaps properly, bad things can happen.
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