A basic explanation of airplane aerodynamics

1. Unit 1 Aerodynamics
Part II

2. Aerodynamic Forces in Flight
Maneuvers
• Forces in Turns
– Newton’s First Law of Motion, Law of Inertia:
“Objects at rest or moving in a straight line remains at
rest or continues to moves in a straight line until acted on by
some other force”.

3. Forces in Turns
When the aircraft banks, lift acts inward toward the center of the turn, as
well as upward.
When making a constant altitude turns is that the
vertical component of lift must be equal to the
weight to maintain altitude.

4. Forces in Climbs
Raising the aircraft’s
nose increases the AOA
and momentarily
increases lift.
LIFT > WEIGHT
DRAG > THRUST
Power (TRUST) is required to maintain airspeed
during climb.
The amount of power depends on the angle of climb.

5. Basic Propeller Principles

6. Basic Propeller PrinciplesLeft Turning Tendency of the Airplane:
• P-Factor
• Accelerated Airstream (Gyroscopic Effect)
• Spiraling Slipstream (Corkscrew Effect)
• Torque Reaction
Flight Instructors says:
“Right Rudder, Right Rudder”

7. Basic Propeller Principles
P-Factor
Asymmetrical loading of the propeller.

8. Basic Propeller Principles
Accelerated Airstream (Gyroscopic Effect)

9. Basic Propeller Principles
Spiraling Slipstream (Corkscrew Effect)

10. Basic Propeller Principles
Torque Reaction
Newton’s Third Law:
“For every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction.”

11. QUESTIONS????