Definition
A basic type of wing flap that consists of a hinged section at the trailing edge of the wing. When deflected downward, it increases the camber (curvature) of the wing, which raises both lift and drag at a given airspeed. It is the simplest of the flap designs and is found on many light aircraft.
Plain English
A simple flap is a hinged piece on the back edge of the wing that swings down. Lowering it makes the wing more curved, which helps the airplane fly slower without stalling and lets it descend more steeply on landing.
Context Anchor
Seen when learning flap types, aircraft control surfaces, takeoff performance, and landing configuration.
Derivation
The word 'flap' comes from the Middle English 'flappe,' meaning something that hangs loose and can be moved up or down — which describes exactly what this surface does on the back of the wing.
Why Pilots Care
It allows lower approach speeds and shorter landing distances on basic training aircraft.
Analogy
A simple flap works a little like a hinged board on the back of a shelf: it swings down as one piece rather than sliding backward or opening a gap.
Intuition Check
Simple does not mean unimportant or only for beginner airplanes. Here it means the flap is the basic hinged type, without a slot or rearward sliding motion.
Example Sentence 1
The trainer was equipped with simple flaps, so the student learned to expect a noticeable increase in drag when full deflection was selected on final approach.
Example Sentence 2
Simple flaps provide adequate lift increase for most light aircraft operations.