Word of the Day
12 April 2026
Fowler flap
A split flap that slides backwards before hinging downward, thereby increasing first chord, then camber. It may or may not form part of the upper surface of the wing.
Why this one
Named for Harlan Fowler, and the sequence is the whole point: the first part of the travel buys wing area, the drop later buys camber. Track and carriage wear shows up as uneven extension long before it shows up in the cockpit.
In use
Left Fowler flap is lagging the right by about an inch on the tracks, so we're pulling the panels to look at the carriages.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.