Flap (aeronautics)
Videos
A flap is a high-lift device used to reduce the stalling speed of an aircraft wing at a given weight. Flaps are usually mounted on the wing trailing edges of a fixed-wing aircraft. Flaps are used to reduce the take-off distance and the landing distance. Flaps also cause an increase in drag so they are retracted when not needed.
The three orange pods are fairings streamlining the flap track mechanisms. The flaps (two on each side, on the Airbus A319) lie directly above these.
Flaps during ground roll after landing, with spoilers up, increasing drag.
North American T-6 trainer, showing its split flaps
Takeoff
Videos
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle leaves the ground and becomes airborne. For aircraft traveling vertically, this is known as liftoff.
An F/A-18 taking off from an aircraft carrier
An Embraer E-175 taking off
Three airliners taking off simultaneously (note similar pitch attitudes)
A Boeing 737-800 retracting its undercarriages during takeoff