Much more than a cosmetic enhancement for visual appeal, they increase lift, reduce drag and lower stall speed, which translates to a considerable performance boost on takeoff, climb, cruise and landing.

FORBES: The Most Successful Aircraft Design Gets Even Better

These household and household-ish names climb the stairs and take a very public leap, sometimes landing gracefully, or at least belly-flopping for audience amusement.

WSJ: Splash: Reality Television Takes a Dive��Jason Gay

It struck me that before I could reach the oval mirror in the upstairs hall, I had to pass through the front hall, cross the dusky living room with its sagging couch, walk the length of the kitchen, and climb two sets of creaking stairs, the long one up to the landing and the short one up to the hall.

NEWYORKER: Miracle Polish