Flaps

Now we know how the pterosaurs took off from a standing start or landed gracefull. They have flaps in front of each wing. I remember flying at the youth flying club but the flaps were behind. You need to use the flaps to take off and land. In landing when you put down the flaps, you create more lift so that the plane can slow down and not stall and fall like a brick.

Check out the nice animations in the"Found: the flying lizards’ missing lift." . By Paul Marks. NewScientist.com, 12 Oct 2005.