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  • Chapter 1: Introduction To Flying › Aircraft Classifications and Ultralight Vehicles

    Airplane—an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings. • Glider—a heavier-than-air aircraft, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction ... against its lifting surfaces and whose free flight does not depend principally on an engine. • Lighter-than-air aircraft—an aircraft that can rise and remain suspended by using contained gas weighing less than the air that is displaced…

  • Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance › Performance › Straight-and-Level Flight

    Level Flight All of the principal components of flight performance involve steady-state flight conditions and equilibrium of the aircraft. For the aircraft to remain in steady, level flight, equilibrium must be obtained by a lift equal to the aircraft ... weight and a powerplant thrust equal to the aircraft drag. Thus, the aircraft drag defines the thrust required to maintain steady, level flight. As presented in Chapter 4, Aerodynamics of Flight, all parts of an aircraft contribute to the drag…

  • Chapter 5: Aerodynamics of Flight › Aircraft Design Characteristics › Lateral Stability (Rolling)

    result, the low wing acquires more lift, rises, and the aircraft is restored to its original flight attitude. Keel Effect and Weight Distribution A high wing aircraft always has the tendency to turn the longitudinal axis of the aircraft into ... relative wind, which is often referred to as the keel effect. These aircraft are laterally stable simply because the wings are attached in a high position on the fuselage, making the fuselage behave like a keel exerting a steadying influence…

  • Chapter 5: Aerodynamics of Flight › Aircraft Design Characteristics › Longitudinal Stability (Pitching)

    Negative dynamic stability—over time, the motion of the displaced object increases and becomes more divergent. Stability in an aircraft affects two areas significantly: • Maneuverability—the quality of an aircraft that permits it to be maneuvered easily and to withstand ... stresses imposed by maneuvers. It is governed by the aircraft’s weight, inertia, size and location of flight controls, structural strength, and powerplant. It too is an aircraft design characteristic. • Controllability—the capability of an aircraft to respond…

  • Chapter 5: Aerodynamics of Flight › Axes of an Aircraft

    Whenever an aircraft changes its flight attitude or position in flight, it rotates about one or more of the three axes. [Figure 5-18] The aircraft’s motion about its longitudinal axis resembles the roll of a ship from side ... side. In fact, the names used to describe the motion about an aircraft’s three axes were originally nautical terms. They have been adapted to aeronautical terminology due to the similarity of motion of aircraft and seagoing ships. The motion…

  • Chapter 9: Techniques of Flight Instruction › Use of Distractions

    attention was diverted from the primary task of flying the aircraft. Sixty percent of stall/spin accidents occurred during takeoff and landing, and twenty percent were preceded by engine failure. Preoccupation inside or outside the flight deck while changing aircraft configuration ... creating distractions while the learner is practicing certain maneuvers. Instructor responsibilities include teaching the learner to divide his or her attention between the distracting task and maintaining control of the aircraft. The following are examples of distractions that…