SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aero-spoilers

What do spoilers on top of a wing do?

They reduce lift (and add drag).

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  1. They reduce lift ✔
  2. They add extra lift
  3. They steer the nose left and right

Why: Spoilers pop up from the top of the wing and spoil the smooth airflow. Jets use them to slow down, to descend without speeding up, and to dump lift after landing.

Huh, didn't know that: On some aircraft, spoilers on one wing help roll the plane.

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References

Answer: They reduce lift. Spoilers pop up from the top of the wing and spoil the smooth airflow. Jets use them to slow down, to descend without speeding up, and to dump lift after landing.

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C) www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-25c.pdf
    Spoilers are used on the upper surface of the wing to spoil or reduce lift.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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