Definition
An intermediate flap setting between fully retracted (flaps up) and fully extended (flaps down), commonly used during approach, takeoff, or maneuvering to provide additional lift without the full drag penalty of a fully deployed flap.
Plain English
A partial flap setting — not all the way up, not all the way down — somewhere in the middle of the flap's range of travel.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft procedures, performance discussions, and flap-position descriptions when a partial flap setting is being used.
Derivation
A combination of 'mid' (middle) and 'flap' (the hinged trailing-edge surface on a wing). The term simply names a position partway through the flap's full travel.
Why Pilots Care
A midflap setting is often the recommended configuration for short-field takeoffs and certain approach phases. Selecting too much or too little flap changes lift, drag, and stall speed — affecting climb performance, sight picture, and landing distance.
Intuition Check
Do not read midflap as a separate flap part. It means a flap position: the flaps are set somewhere in the middle of their travel.
Example Sentence 1
For a short-field takeoff, the pilot selected midflap to shorten the ground roll while maintaining acceptable climb performance.
Example Sentence 2
At higher speeds the flow over the midflap remained attached while the outer sections began to separate.