See how the speed brake works on the Boeing 737 ✈️

See how the speed brake on the Boeing 737 works ✈️

Speed brakes are the panels on top of the wing that raise up to increase drag and reduce lift.

There’s an old saying that, “the aircraft can either go down, it can slow down but it can’t do both at the same time!”

In other words, thanks to the aerodynamic efficiency of modern wings, it can make decelerating the aircraft whilst descending more of a challenge.

To address this, airliners are fitted with speed brakes. These are controlled by a lever in the cockpit which enables pilots to deploy large panels on top of the wing to increase drag and reduce lift.

This has the effect of increasing the rate of descent, increasing the rate of deceleration or both.

The 737 speed brake has 4 positions:

1. Down - in this position, the spoiler panels are down and flush with the wing surface.

2. Armed - this position arms the speed brakes so that they will automatically deploy after landing.

3. Flight detent - this is the position we use in flight when we need additional drag. It raises the spoilers to the “flight position”. The actually deflection is dependent on factors such as the airspeed of the aircraft.

4. Up - this position is used on the ground only and deploys both flight and ground spoilers to the fully up position.
This position is used after landing or during a rejected takeoff.

The fully up position is vital after landing or during an RTO, as it destroys the lift of the wing, thereby putting all the weight of the aircraft on the wheels, which enables us to have maximum wheel brake efficiency.

When the speed brakes are deployed in flight, you’ll often feel a slight “rumble” through the aircraft as the airflow over the wings is being disturbed - this is absolutely normal.

When I was flying the old 737-300 almost 20 years ago, the speed brake lever was af

See how the speed brake on the Boeing 737 works ✈️

Speed brakes are the panels on top of the wing that raise up to increase drag and reduce lift.

There’s an old saying that, “the aircraft can either go down, it can slow down but it can’t do both at the same time!”

In other words, thanks to the aerodynamic efficiency of modern wings, it can make decelerating the aircraft whilst descending more of a challenge.

To address this, airliners are fitted with speed brakes. These are controlled by a lever in the cockpit which enables pilots to deploy large panels on top of the wing to increase drag and reduce lift.

This has the effect of increasing the rate of descent, increasing the rate of deceleration or both.

The 737 speed brake has 4 positions:

1. Down - in this position, the spoiler panels are down and flush with the wing surface.

2. Armed - this position arms the speed brakes so that they will automatically deploy after landing.

3. Flight detent - this is the position we use in flight when we need additional drag. It raises the spoilers to the “flight position”. The actually deflection is dependent on factors such as the airspeed of the aircraft.

4. Up - this position is used on the ground only and deploys both flight and ground spoilers to the fully up position.
This position is used after landing or during a rejected takeoff.

The fully up position is vital after landing or during an RTO, as it destroys the lift of the wing, thereby putting all the weight of the aircraft on the wheels, which enables us to have maximum wheel brake efficiency.

When the speed brakes are deployed in flight, you’ll often feel a slight “rumble” through the aircraft as the airflow over the wings is being disturbed - this is absolutely normal.

When I was flying the old 737-300 almost 20 years ago, the speed brake lever was affectionately known as “the stick of shame”!

The reason being that if a pilot needed to use the speed brake, it was perceived that they’d mismanaged the descent! Thankfully those days have gone!

#airlinepilot #cockpitview #studentpilot #avgeek #airliner #boeing737lover #boeing737 #airlinersdaily #flightsimulator #flightschool #speedbrake

[KngoDisco]

Nice thanks. Didn’t know that feature. Gonna use these next time I fly my plane. Mines currently being repaired. I landed mine on the highway the other day. I think I shifted too late and destroyed the gearbox. $2000 at least I tell you that

[selinalavanya]

Great illustration, captain! Thank you for such educational content. Can learn something from your videos! ✨✨✈️

[AnoNymous-itvi]

I love this kind of content, thanks captain!

[vedymin]

Can they be forced past the flight detent in the air ? Or is there a lock ?

[canexfex]

should the speedbrakes be put in the flight detent position for the plane to slow down and reach the point where the flaps should be set? I mean when you come in the air and to put flaps the plane must slow down, but i have the question if putting the speedbreak is so that the plane can reduce that speed and so the flaps can be put on?