This lesson is an introduction to some of the basic aerodynamic concepts you will be examining throughout this chapter.

PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT: AEROPLANE
Subsonic aerodynamics
Basics concepts, laws and definitions
Laws and definitions:
  a) conversion of units;
  b) Newton´s laws;
  c) Bernoulli’s equation and venture;
  d) static pressure, dynamic pressure and total pressure;
  e) density;
  f) IAS and TAS.
Basics about airflow:
  a) streamline;
  b) two-dimensional airflow;
  c) three-dimensional airflow.
Aerodynamic forces on surfaces:
  a) resulting airforce;
  b) lift;
  c) drag;
  d) angle of attack.
Shape of an aerofoil section:
  a) thickness to chord ratio;
  b) chord line;
  c) camber line;
  d) camber;
  e) angle of attack.
The wing shape:
  a) aspect ratio;
  b) root chord;
  c) tip chord;
  d) tapered wings;
  e) wing planform.
The two-dimensional airflow about an aerofoil
Streamline pattern
Stagnation point
Pressure distribution
Centre of pressure
Influence of angle of attack
Flow separation at high angles of attack
The lift – α graph

MST LIBRARY REF:
03 C152 - Beginners guide to flying
4 PPL Aerodynamics of Flight (Part 1 of 3)
4 PPL Aerodynamics of Flight (Part 2 of 3)
4 PPL Aerodynamics of Flight (Part 3 of 3)

There are four forces that act on things that fly. These are weight, lift, thrust, and drag. Each of these plays a key role in keeping an aircraft in the air and moving forward. This lesson covers lift theory and the two types of drag affecting airplanes.
- The coefficients The lift coefficient CL: the lift formula
- The drag coefficient CD: the drag formula