You've seen them deploy before landing. But what exactly do flaps do? Flaps are hinged panels on the back of each wing. Wings generate lift by pushing air downward. Faster airflow means more lift. But landing means slowing down dramatically from cruise speed. Slow airflow over the wing produces less lift force. Without help, the aircraft would descend faster than it can safely touch down. Extending flaps makes the wing physically bigger. A bigger wing surface grabs more of the passing airflow. They tilt downward, changing how the wing attacks the air. The changed angle forces more air downward, generating extra lift force. With flap lift helping, the aircraft can land at safe slow speeds. Flaps deploy in stages to control descent rate smoothly and safely. Without flaps, most planes cannot slow down enough to land. That's why every airliner has them. They save lives every single day.
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