Definition
The current arrangement of an aircraft's movable components that affect its aerodynamic performance, principally the position of the landing gear (up or down), the flap setting, and where applicable the position of slats, spoilers, speed brakes, and cowl flaps. Each combination produces a distinct configuration with its own handling characteristics, stall speed, and performance numbers.
Plain English
The way the airplane is currently set up — gear up or down, flaps in or extended, and so on. Each setup changes how the airplane flies.
Context Anchor
Seen in stall awareness, takeoff, approach, landing, and checklist discussions when the airplane’s setup affects its handling or required speed.
Derivation
From the Latin 'configurare,' meaning 'to shape together.' In aviation, it refers to how the moving parts of the aircraft are 'shaped' or set at a given moment.
Why Pilots Care
Changing configuration directly raises or lowers stall speed and affects handling; misjudging it is a common stall factor.
Intuition Check
Do not read configuration as the kind or model of aircraft. In this context, it means the airplane’s present setup, such as whether flaps or landing gear are up or down.
Example Sentence 1
Before turning final, the pilot established the landing configuration by extending the gear and selecting full flaps.
Example Sentence 2
With the gear and flaps up in a clean aircraft configuration, the airplane stalls at a higher speed.