An accessible, clearly organized study guide for student pilots wishing to take commercial ground examinations to obtain ATPL or CPL licenses, this book also provides a reliable up-to-date reference for qualified and experienced personnel wishing to improve their understanding of the principles of flight.

Series Preface xxi Preface xxiii Acknowledgements xxv List of Abbreviations xxvii Weight and Mass xxxi Part 1 The Preliminaries 1 1 Basic Principles 3 1.1 The Atmosphere 3 1.2 The Composition of Air 3 1.2.1 The Measurement of Temperature 3 1.2.2 Air Density 4 1.3 The International Standard Atmosphere 4 1.3.1 ISA Deviation 5 1.3.2 JSA Deviation 5 1.3.3 Height and Altitude 6 1.3.4 Pressure Altitude 7 1.3.5 Density Altitude 7 1.4 The Physical Properties of Air 7 1.4.1 Fluid Pressure 7 1.4.2 Static Pressure 7 1.4.3 Dynamic Pressure 7 1.5 Newton’s Laws of Motion 8 1.5.1 Definitions 8 1.5.2 First Law 8 1.5.3 Second Law 8 1.5.4 Third Law 9 1.6 Constant-Acceleration Formulae 9 1.7 The Equation of Impulse 9 1.8 The Basic Gas Laws 10 1.8.1 Boyles Law 10 1.8.2 Charles’ Law 10 1.8.3 Pressure Law 10 1.8.4 The Ideal Gas Equation 10 1.9 The Conservation Laws 11 1.10 Bernoulli’s Theorem 11 1.10.1 Viscosity 11 1.11 The Equation of Continuity 12 1.12 Reynolds Number 12 1.12.1 Critical Reynolds Number (Recrit) 13 1.13 Units of Measurement 13 Self-Assessment Exercise 1 15 2 Basic Aerodynamic Definitions 19 2.1 Aerofoil Profile 19 2.2 Aerofoil Attitude 20 2.3 Wing Shape 21 2.4 Wing Loading 23 2.5 Weight and Mass 24 2.5.1 The Newton 24 2.6 Airspeeds 24 2.6.1 Airspeed Indicator Reading (ASIR) 24 2.6.2 Indicated Airspeed (IAS) 25 2.6.3 Calibrated Airspeed (CAS) 25 2.6.4 Rectified Airspeed (RAS) 25 2.6.5 Equivalent Airspeed (EAS) 25 2.6.6 True Airspeed (TAS) 25 2.6.7 Mach Number 26 2.7 Speed Summary 26 2.8 The Effect of Altitude on Airspeeds 27 2.8.1 a. Below the Tropopause 27 2.8.2 b. Above the Tropopause 27 Self-Assessment Exercise 2 29 Part 2 Basic Aerodynamics 33 3 Basic Control 35 3.1 Aeroplane Axes and Planes of Rotation 35 3.1.1 The Longitudinal or Roll Axis 35 3.1.2 The Lateral or Pitch Axis 35 3.1.3 The Normal or Yaw Axis 35 3.2 The Flight Controls 35 3.3 The Elevators 37 3.4 Pitch Control 37 3.4.1 Control Surface Area 38 3.4.1.1 Control Surface Angular Deflection 38 3.4.2 The Moment Arm 38 3.4.3 Angle of Attack 38 3.5 Alternative Pitch Controls 39 3.5.1 Variable Incidence Tailplane 39 3.5.2 The Stabilator 40 3.5.3 The Elevons 40 3.6 The Rudder 40 3.7 Yaw Control 41 3.7.1 Control-Surface Area 41 3.7.1.1 Control-Surface Deflection 41 3.7.2 The Moment Arm 41 3.7.2.1 Engine-Induced Yaw 41 3.8 Asymmetric Engine Yawing Moment 42 3.8.1 Critical Power Unit 42 3.9 Asymmetric Rolling Moment 43 3.10 Minimum Control Speeds 44 3.10.0.1 For Take-off 44 3.10.0.2 For Landing 44 3.10.1 VMC 44 3.10.2 VMCG 44 3.10.2.1 The Effect of the Variables on VMCG and VMC 45 3.10.3 VMCL 45 3.10.4 VMCL(1out) 45 3.10.5 VMCL-2 46 3.10.5.1 The Effect of the Variables on VMCL 46 3.11 The Ailerons 46 3.12 Roll Control 46 3.12.1 The Flaperon 47 3.13 Wing Twist 47 3.14 Geometric Twist 47 3.15 Aerodynamic Twist 47 3.15.1 Twisterons 48 3.16 High-Speed Twist 49 3.16.1 Low-Speed Ailerons 49 3.16.2 High-Speed Ailerons 49 3.16.3 Roll Spoilers 50 Self-Assessment Exercise 3 51 4 Lift Generation 55 4.1 Turbulent Flow 55 4.2 Streamline Flow 55 4.3 The Boundary Layer 57 4.4 The Laminar Boundary Layer 58 4.4.1 The Transition Point 58 4.5 The Turbulent Boundary Layer 58 4.5.1 Leading-Edge Separation 59 4.6 Boundary-Layer Control 59 4.6.1 Blowing 59 4.6.2 Suction 60 4.6.3 Vortex Generators 60 4.7 Two-Dimensional Flow 61 4.8 The Stagnation Point 61 4.8.1 Aerofoil Upper-Surface Airflow 61 4.8.2 Aerofoil Lower-Surface Airflow 61 4.9 Lift Production 62 4.9.1 Symmetrical Aerofoils 62 4.9.2 Cambered Aerofoils 62 4.9.2.1 a. Negative Angles of Attack 64 4.9.2.2 b. Small Positive Angles of Attack 64 4.9.2.3 c. Large Positive Angles of Attack 64 4.10 The Centre of Pressure (CP) 64 4.11 Pitching Moments 65 4.12 The Aerodynamic Centre 67 4.13 Three-Dimensional Flow 68 4.14 Wing-Tip Vortices 68 4.15 Wake Turbulence 70 4.16 Spanwise Lift Distribution 70 4.16.1 The Effect of Wing Planform 70 Self-Assessment Exercise 4 75 Part 3 Level-Flight Aerodynamics 79 5 Lift Analysis 81 5.1 The Four Forces 81 5.2 Mass 81 5.3 Lift Analysis 82 5.4 The Factors Affecting CL 84 5.5 The Effect of Angle of Attack 84 5.6 The Effect of the Wing Shape 85 5.6.1 The Effect of Leading-Edge Radius 86 5.6.2 The Effect of Camber 86 5.6.3 The Effect of Aspect Ratio 87 5.6.4 The Wing Planform 88 5.6.4.1 The Effect of Sweepback 88 5.7 The Effect of Airframe-Surface Condition 89 5.8 The Effect of Reynolds Number 91 5.9 The Relationship between Speeds, Angles of Attack and CL 92 5.10 Aerofoil Profiles 93 5.10.1 High-Lift Aerofoils 93 5.10.2 General-Purpose Aerofoils 94 5.10.3 High-Speed Aerofoils 94 Self-Assessment Exercise 5 95 6 Lift Augmentation 99 6.1 Wing Loading 99 6.2 CLmax Augmentation 99 6.3 Slats 100 6.3.1 Automatic Slats 101 6.3.2 Manual Slats 103 6.4 Slots 103 6.5 Leading-Edge Flaps 103 6.5.1 The Krueger Flap 105 6.5.2 The Drooped Leading Edge 106 6.6 Trailing-Edge Flaps 106 6.6.1 The Plain Trailing-Edge Flap 107 6.6.2 The Split Trailing-Edge Flap 108 6.6.3 The Slotted Trailing-Edge Flap 108 6.6.4 The Fowler Flap 109 6.6.4.1 The Effect of Trailing-Edge Flaps 110 6.6.5 Leading- and Trailing-Edge Combinations 110 6.6.5.1 The Effect of Sweepback on Flap 112 Self-Assessment Exercise 6 113 7 Drag 119 7.1 Parasite (Profile) Drag 119 7.2 Surface-Friction Drag 120 7.2.0.1 Surface Area 120 7.2.0.2 Coefficient of Viscosity 120 7.2.0.3 Rate of Change of Airspeed 120 7.2.1 Flow Transition 120 7.2.1.1 Surface Condition 121 7.2.1.2 Speed and Size 121 7.2.1.3 Adverse Pressure Gradient 121 7.3 Form (Pressure) Drag 121 7.3.1 Interference Drag 122 7.4 Induced Drag 122 7.4.1 The Effect of Speed 123 7.4.2 The Effect of Mass 125 7.4.3 The Effect of Planform 125 7.4.4 The Effect of Sweepback 125 7.4.5 The Effect of Aspect Ratio 126 7.4.6 The Effect of Flap 126 7.4.7 The Effect of the CG Position 126 7.4.8 Effects Summary 127 7.5 Ground Effect 127 7.6 Wing-Tip Design 128 7.7 Wingspan Loading 129 7.8 The Coefficient of Induced Drag (CDI) 129 7.9 Total Drag 130 7.10 Analysis of the Total-Drag Curve 130 7.11 The Velocity of Minimum Drag (VIMD) 130 7.12 The Velocity of Minimum Power (VIMP) 132 7.13 The Maximum EAS/Drag Ratio (VI/Dmax) Speed 132 7.14 Speed Stability and Instability 133 7.15 The Effect of the Variables on Total Drag 134 7.15.1 The Effect of Altitude 134 7.15.2 The Effect of Mass 134 7.15.3 The Effect of Flap 134 7.16 The CL v CD Polar Diagram 136 7.17 Analysis of the Lift/Drag Ratio 137 7.17.1 The Effect of Flap 138 7.17.2 The Effect of Aspect Ratio 138 7.17.3 The Effect of Mass 139 7.18 Drag Augmentation 139 7.19 Airbrakes 139 7.20 Spoilers 139 7.20.1 Flight Spoilers 139 7.20.2 Ground Spoilers 140 7.20.3 Roll Spoilers 141 7.21 Barn-Door Flaps 142 7.22 Drag Parachutes 142 Self-Assessment Exercise 7 143 8 Stalling 153 8.0.1 The Stall 153 8.1 The Boundary Layer 153 8.2 Boundary-Layer Separation 154 8.2.1 Trailing-Edge Separation 154 8.2.2 Leading-Edge Separation 155 8.3 The Low-Speed Stalling Angle 156 8.4 Factors Affecting the Low-Speed Stalling Angle 156 8.4.1 Slat/Flap Setting 156 8.4.2 Ice Accretion 157 8.4.3 Effect on Take-off and Landing 158 8.4.3.1 Take-Off 158 8.4.3.2 Landing 158 8.4.3.3 Reduced Stalling Angle 159 8.4.3.4 Abnormal Stalling Characteristics 159 8.4.4 Heavy Rain 159 8.5 The Effect of Wing Design on the Low-Speed Stall 159 8.5.1 Swept Wings 160 8.5.2 Elliptical Wings 161 8.5.3 Rectangular Wings 161 8.5.4 Straight Tapered Wings 161 8.6 Spanwise-Flow Attenuation Devices 161 8.6.1 The Wing Fence 162 8.6.2 The Sawtooth Leading Edge 162 8.6.3 The Notched Leading Edge 162 8.6.4 Vortex Generators 162 8.7 Wing-Tip Stalling 164 8.7.1 The Effect of Flap 164 8.7.2 The Prevention of Wing-Tip Stalling 165 8.7.2.1 a. Washout 165 8.7.2.2 b. Root Spoiler 165 8.7.2.3 c. Changing Camber 165 8.7.2.4 d. Slats and Slots 165 8.7.2.5 e. Aspect Ratio 165 8.8 Stalling Characteristics 165 8.8.1 Ideal Stalling Characteristics 165 8.8.2 Swept-Wing Stalling Characteristics 166 8.9 Summary of Factors Affecting the Stalling Angle 166 8.10 Aerodynamic Stall Warning 166 8.11 Mechanical Stall Warning 167 8.11.1 The Flapper Switch 167 8.11.2 The Angle of Attack Sensor 167 8.11.3 Stick Shakers 168 8.11.4 Stick Pushers 168 8.12 Stalling Speed 168 8.13 Factors Affecting Stalling Speed 169 8.14 Centre of Gravity (CG) 169 8.14.1 Forward CG 169 8.14.1.1 Disadvantage 169 8.14.1.2 Advantage 169 8.14.2 Aft CG 169 8.14.2.1 Disadvantage 170 8.14.2.2 Advantage 170 8.15 Mass 170 8.16 Altitude 171 8.17 Configuration 171 8.18 Ice Accretion 171 8.19 Wing Planform 172 8.20 Summary of Factor Effects on Stalling Speed 172 8.21 The Speed Boundary 172 8.22 The Effect of a Gust on the Load Factor 173 8.23 Turn Stalling Speed 174 8.24 Stalling-Speed Definitions 174 8.24.1 VCLmax 175 8.24.2 VMS 175 8.24.3 VMS0 175 8.24.4 VMS1 175 8.24.5 VS 176 8.24.6 VS0 176 8.24.7 VS1 176 8.24.8 VS1g 176 8.24.9 VSR 176 8.24.10 VSR0 176 8.24.11 VSR1 176 8.25 The Deep Stall 177 8.26 The Accelerated Stall 177 8.27 The Power-On Stall 177 8.28 The Shock Stall 178 8.29 Stall Recovery 178 8.29.1 The Low-speed Stall 178 8.29.2 The Deep Stall 178 8.29.3 The Accelerated Stall 178 8.29.4 The Power-On Stall 179 8.29.5 The Shock Stall 179 8.30 The Spin 179 Self-Assessment Exercise 8 181 9 Thrust and Power in Level Flight 189 9.1 Thrust 189 9.2 Analysis of the Thrust Curves 189 9.2.1 Thrust Available 189 9.2.2 Thrust Required 190 9.2.2.1 Maximum Speed (EAS) 190 9.3 The Effect of the Variables on Thrust 191 9.3.1 Altitude 191 9.3.2 Mass 193 9.3.3 Asymmetric Flight 193 9.3.4 Centre of Gravity 195 9.4 Power 196 9.5 Analysis of the Power Curves 196 9.5.1 Maximum TAS 197 9.5.2 VMP and VMD 197 9.6 The Effect of the Variables on Power 198 9.6.1 Altitude 198 9.6.2 Mass 200 9.7 Summary 201 Self-Assessment Exercise 9 203 10 Advanced Control 207 10.1 Wing Torsion and Flexing 207 10.2 Wing Flutter 207 10.3 Torsional Flexural Flutter 207 10.4 Aileron Flutter 210 10.4.1 Torsional Aileron Flutter 210 10.4.2 Flexural Aileron Flutter 211 10.4.2.1 The Mass Balance 212 10.5 Divergence 213 10.6 Control Secondary Effects 213 10.7 Adverse Yaw 213 10.8 Counteraction Devices 214 10.8.1 Rudder/Aileron Coupling 214 10.8.2 Slot/Aileron Coupling 214 10.8.3 Spoiler/Aileron Coupling 214 10.8.4 Differential Aileron Deflection 214 10.8.5 Frise Ailerons 214 10.9 Control-Surface Operation 215 10.10 Aerodynamic Balance Methods 216 10.10.1 The Hinge Balance 216 10.10.2 The Horn Balance 216 10.10.3 The Internal Balance 217 10.10.4 The Balance Tab 217 10.10.5 The Antibalance Tab 218 10.10.6 The Spring Tab 218 10.10.7 The Servo Tab 220 10.11 Primary Control-Surface Trimming 221 10.11.1 Variable Trim Tabs 222 10.11.2 Fixed Trim Tabs 222 10.11.3 Stabilizer Trim Setting 222 10.12 Powered Controls 223 10.13 Power-Assisted Controls 223 10.14 Fully Powered Controls 223 10.14.1 Artificial Feel 224 10.14.1.1 The Simple System 224 10.14.1.2 The Servo-Assisted Hydraulic System 224 10.15 Fly-by-Wire 225 Self-Assessment Exercise 10 227 Part 4 Stability 231 11 Static Stability 233 11.1 Static Stability 233 11.2 The Effect of the Variables on Static Stability 235 11.3 Directional Static Stability 235 11.4 Yaw and Sideslip 235 11.5 The Directional Restoring Moment 235 11.5.1 Fin and Rudder Design 237 11.5.2 The Dorsal Fin 237 11.5.3 The Ventral Fin 237 11.5.4 The Moment Arm 237 11.6 Aeroplane Design Features Affecting Directional Static Stability 238 11.6.1 Fuselage 238 11.6.2 Wing 238 11.6.2.1 Dihedral 239 11.6.3 Sweepback 239 11.7 Propeller Slipstream 240 11.8 Neutral Directional Static Stability 240 11.9 Lateral Static Stability 240 11.10 Aeroplane Design Features Affecting Lateral Static Stability 242 11.10.1 Increased Lateral Static Stability 242 11.10.2 Decreased Lateral Static Stability 242 11.11 Sideslip Angle and Rolling Moment Coefficient 243 11.12 Analysis of Design Feature Effects 244 11.13 Wing Contribution 244 11.13.1 Dihedral 244 11.13.2 Anhedral 245 11.13.3 Sweepback 245 11.14 Wing/Fuselage Interference 246 11.14.1 Shielding Effect 246 11.14.2 Wing Location 246 11.15 Fuselage/Fin 246 11.15.1 Fin Size 246 11.15.2 Ventral Fin 246 11.16 Handling Considerations 247 11.16.1 Propeller Slipstream 247 11.16.2 Crosswind Landings 247 11.16.3 Flaps 247 11.17 Longitudinal Static Stability 248 11.18 The Centre of Pressure (CP) 249 11.19 The Neutral Point (NP) 250 11.19.1 Types of Static Neutral Point 250 11.19.1.1 The Stick-Free Static Neutral Point 250 11.19.1.2 The Stick-Fixed Static Neutral Point 250 11.19.2 The Effect of the CG at the NP 250 11.20 The Aerodynamic Centre (AC) 251 11.21 The Centre of Gravity (CG) 251 11.21.1 The CG Envelope 251 11.21.1.1 CG Envelope Limitations 251 11.21.1.2 CG Movement 252 11.21.2 The Effect of CG at the Limits 252 11.21.2.1 CG at the Forward Limit 252 11.21.2.2 CG at the Aft Limit 252 11.22 The Static Margin (SM) 253 11.23 The Trim Point (TP) 253 11.24 Longitudinal Dihedral 253 11.25 Aeroplane-Design Variations 255 11.26 The Effect of the Variables on Longitudinal Static Stability 255 11.26.1 Elevator Deflection 255 11.26.2 Trim 256 11.26.3 The Fuselage 257 11.26.4 Angle of Attack 257 11.26.5 Configuration 257 11.26.5.1 Trailing-Edge Flaps 257 11.26.5.2 Undercarriage 257 11.27 Stick-Fixed Longitudinal Static Stability 257 11.27.1 Stick-Position Stability 258 11.28 Stick-Free Longitudinal Static Stability 258 11.28.1 Stick Force 259 11.29 Certification Standard Stick-Force Requirements 260 11.29.1 a. Class ‘A’ Aeroplanes CS 25.173(c) 260 11.29.2 b. Class ‘B’ Aeroplanes CS 23.173(c) 260 11.30 The Effect of CG Position on Stick Force 260 11.31 Longitudinal Static Manoeuvre Stability 261 11.31.1 The Manoeuvre Point 261 11.32 Factors Affecting Stick Force 262 11.33 Summary 262 11.34 The Effect of Atmospheric Conditions 264 11.34.1 Ice Accretion 264 11.34.2 Heavy Rain 264 11.34.3 Altitude 264 11.35 The Factors Affecting Static Stability 264 Self-Assessment Exercise 11 267 12 Dynamic Stability 277 12.1 Longitudinal Dynamic Stability 279 12.1.1 The Phugoid 279 12.1.2 Short-Period Oscillation 280 12.1.3 Factors Affecting Longitudinal Dynamic Stability 280 12.2 Lateral Dynamic Stability 280 12.2.1 Sideslip 281 12.2.2 Rolling 281 12.2.3 Spiral 281 12.2.4 Dutch Roll 281 12.3 Spiral Instability 281 12.4 Dutch Roll 282 12.5 Asymmetric Thrust 282 12.6 Aerodynamic Damping 283 12.7 Summary 283 12.8 The Factors Affecting Dynamic Stability 283 12.8.1 a. General 283 12.8.2 b. Longitudinal 284 12.8.3 c. Lateral 284 Self-Assessment Exercise 12 285 Part 5 Manoeuvre Aerodynamics 289 13 Level-Flight Manoeuvres 291 13.1 The Manoeuvre Envelope 291 13.1.1 The Flight Load Factor 291 13.2 Manoeuvre-Envelope Limitations 291 13.2.1 The Stalling Speed 291 13.2.2 The ‘g’ Limitation 292 13.2.3 The Manoeuvre-Envelope Limiting Parameters 294 13.2.4 The Manoeuvre-Envelope Maximum-Speed Limitation 294 13.3 Stalling and Design Speed Definitions 294 13.4 Limiting Speeds 296 13.5 The Load Factor 296 13.6 The Gust Load Factor 297 13.7 Buffet 299 13.7.1 Low-Speed Buffet 299 13.7.2 High-Speed Buffet 300 13.8 The Buffet Onset Boundary Chart 300 13.9 Turns 302 13.9.1 The Load Factor in a Turn 303 13.9.2 The Turn Radius 303 13.9.3 Rate of Turn 305 13.10 Turn and Slip Indications 306 Self-Assessment Exercise 13 307 14 Climb and Descent Aerodynamics 315 14.1 Climbing Flight 315 14.2 The Forces in a Climb 315 14.3 The Effect of the Variables on the Climb 316 14.3.1 Altitude 316 14.3.2 Mass 316 14.3.3 Flap Setting 316 14.3.4 Wind Component 317 14.4 Climb Gradient 317 14.5 Climb-Gradient Calculations 318 14.5.1 Method 1 318 14.5.2 Method 2 320 14.6 Rate of Climb 321 14.7 Rate-of-Climb Calculations 321 14.8 VX and VY 323 14.9 VX 323 14.10 VY 325 14.11 Aircraft Ceiling 326 14.12 VY at the Absolute Ceiling 327 14.12.1 Piston/Propeller Aeroplanes 328 14.12.2 Jet Aeroplanes 328 14.13 The Effect of the Variables on VX and VY 329 14.13.1 Mass 329 14.13.2 Flap 329 14.13.3 Altitude 329 14.13.4 Temperature 329 14.13.5 Wind Component 329 14.14 The Effect of Climbing-Speed Variations 331 14.15 Factors Affecting the Climb 332 14.16 The Glide Descent 332 14.16.1 The Glide Variables 333 14.17 Gliding for Maximum Range 334 14.18 The Effect of the Variables on a Glide Descent 335 14.18.1 Speed 335 14.18.2 Wind Component 336 14.18.3 Mass 337 14.18.4 Angle of Attack 338 14.18.5 Flap 338 14.19 Gliding for Maximum Endurance 338 14.20 Climbing and Descending Turns 339 Self-Assessed Exercise 14 341 Part 6 Other Aerodynamic Considerations 349 15 High-Speed Flight 351 15.0.1 General Introduction 351 15.1 High-Speed Definitions 352 15.2 High-Speed Calculations 352 15.3 The Shockwave 353 15.3.1 Compressibility 353 15.3.2 Shockwave Formation 353 15.4 Air-Pressure-Wave Patterns 354 15.4.1 Subsonic 357 15.4.2 Sonic 357 15.4.3 Supersonic 357 15.5 The Shockwave Deflection Angle 357 15.6 The High-Speed CP 358 15.7 Critical Mach Number (MCRIT) 358 15.8 The Effect of a Shockwave 359 15.8.1 Wave Drag 359 15.8.2 Drag Divergence Mach Number 360 15.9 The Flying Controls 360 15.10 The Effect of the Aerofoil Profile 361 15.10.1 Thickness/Chord Ratio 362 15.10.2 Wing Camber 362 15.11 Swept Wings 362 15.12 The Effect of Sweepback 362 15.12.1 The Advantages of Sweepback 362 15.12.1.1 Increased MCRIT 363 15.12.1.2 Aerodynamic Effects 363 15.12.2 The Disadvantages of Sweepback 363 15.13 Remedial Design Features 364 15.13.1 Low-Speed Ailerons 365 15.13.2 High-Speed Ailerons 365 15.14 Area Rule 365 15.15 High-Speed-Flight Characteristics 367 15.15.1 High-Speed Buffet 367 15.15.2 Tuck Under 367 15.15.3 The Shock Stall 367 15.15.4 The Buffet Boundary 368 15.15.5 Coffin Corner 368 15.16 Speed Instability 368 15.16.1 The Mach Trimmer 369 15.16.2 Lateral Instability 369 15.17 The Supercritical Wing 369 15.18 Supersonic Airflow 370 15.18.1 The Convex Corner Mach Wave (Expansion Wave) 370 15.18.2 The Concave-Corner Shockwave 372 Self-Assessment Exercise 15 373 16 Propellers 387 16.1 Propeller Definitions 387 16.2 Basic Principles 389 16.3 Factors Affecting Propeller Efficiency 391 16.4 Airspeed 391 16.4.1 Fixed-Pitch Propellers 391 16.4.2 Variable-Pitch Propellers 393 16.5 Power Absorption 393 16.5.1 Propeller-Blade Shape 393 16.5.1.1 Blade Length 393 16.5.1.2 Blade Chord 394 16.5.2 Propeller-Blade Number 394 16.5.3 Solidity 394 16.6 The Effects of a Propeller on Aeroplane Performance 395 16.6.1 Torque 395 16.6.2 Slipstream Effect 396 16.6.3 Asymmetric Blade 396 16.6.4 Gyroscopic Effect 397 16.7 Propeller Forces and Moments 398 16.7.1 Centrifugal Force (CF) 398 16.7.2 Centrifugal Twisting Moment (CTM) 398 16.7.3 Aerodynamic Twisting Moment (ATM) 398 16.8 Propeller-Blade Positions 400 16.9 The Constant-Speed Unit (CSU) 400 16.9.1 Propeller Windmilling 401 16.9.2 Propeller Feathering 401 16.9.3 Reverse Pitch 403 16.10 The Effect of a Constant Speed Propeller on a Glide Descent 403 16.11 Engine Failure 403 Self-Assessment Exercise 16 405 17 Operational Considerations 411 17.1 Runway-Surface Contamination 411 17.1.1 Surface Contaminants 411 17.1.1.1 Standing Water 411 17.1.1.2 Slush 411 17.1.1.3 Wet Snow 411 17.1.1.4 Dry Snow 412 17.1.1.5 Very Dry Snow 412 17.1.1.6 Compacted Snow 412 17.1.1.7 Ice 412 17.1.1.8 Specially Prepared Winter Runway 412 17.1.1.9 Mixtures 412 17.1.1.10 Contaminant Drag 413 17.1.1.11 Water-Equivalent Depth 413 17.2 The Effect of Runway Contamination 413 17.2.1 Take-off 413 17.3 Aeroplane Contamination 415 17.3.1 The Effect of Heavy Rain 415 17.3.2 The Effect of Propeller Icing 415 17.3.3 The Effect of Airframe Icing 416 17.3.4 The Effect of Airframe-Surface Damage 416 17.3.5 The Effect of Turbulence 416 17.4 Windshear 417 17.4.1 The Effect of Windshear 417 17.4.1.1 Energy Loss 417 17.4.1.2 Energy Gain 417 17.4.2 Downdraught 418 17.4.2.1 Take-off 418 17.4.2.2 Landing 418 17.4.3 Countering Windshear 419 Self-Assessment Exercise 17 421 Part 7 Conclusion 425 18 Summary 427 18.1 Aerofoil-Profile Definitions 427 18.2 Aerofoil-Attitude Definitions 427 18.3 Wing-Shape Definitions 428 18.4 High-Speed Definitions 428 18.5 Propeller Definitions 429 18.6 V Speeds 430 18.7 PoF Formulae 432 18.7.1 Drag 433 18.7.2 Wing Loading/Load Factor 433 18.7.3 Stalling Speed Calculations 434 18.7.3.1 Mass Change 434 18.7.3.2 Load Factor 434 18.7.3.3 Turn 434 18.7.4 Design Manoeuvre Speed (VA) 434 18.7.5 Turn Details 434 18.7.5.1 Radius of Turn 434 18.7.5.2 Rate of Turn 434 18.7.6 Climb Calculations 434 18.7.7 Descent Calculations 434 18.7.7.1 Maximum Glide Range 435 18.7.8 Mach Angle (µ) Calculation 435 18.8 Key Facts 435 18.9 Stalling 435 18.9.1 The Maximum Coefficient of Lift (CLmax) 435 18.9.2 The Critical Angle 435 18.9.3 The Stalling Speed 436 18.10 Stability 436 18.10.1 Static Stability 436 18.10.2 Dynamic Stability 436 18.10.3 The Stick Force 438 18.10.4 The Gust Load Factor 439 18.11 Propellers 439 18.11.1 Propeller Efficiency 439 18.11.2 Fixed Pitch Angle of Attack 439 18.11.3 Propeller Gyroscopic Effect 440 18.12 The Effect of the Variables on Performance 440 18.12.1 Airframe Surface 440 18.12.2 Airframe Surface 440 18.12.3 Altitude 441 18.12.4 Aspect Ratio 441 18.12.5 Camber 441 18.12.6 CG Position 442 18.12.7 Flap 442 18.12.8 Sweepback 443 18.12.9 Dihedral 443 18.12.10 Mass 443 Self-Assessment Exercise 18 445 19 Solutions (with page references) 447 Self-Assessment Exercise 1 447 Self-Assessment Exercise 2 447 Self-Assessment Exercise 3 448 Self-Assessment Exercise 4 448 Self-Assessment Exercise 5 448 Self-Assessment Exercise 6 449 Self-Assessment Exercise 7 450 Self-Assessment Exercise 8 451 Self-Assessment Exercise 9 452 Self-Assessment Exercise 10 453 Self-Assessment Exercise 11 453 Self-Assessment Exercise 12 454 Self-Assessment Exercise 13 454 Self-Assessment Exercise 14 456 14.0.1 Vx &Vy Mathematical Proof 457 Self-Assessment Exercise 15 458 Self-Assessment Exercise 16 459 Self-Assessment Exercise 17 459 Self-Assessment Exercise 18 Turn Calculations 460 Index 461 

Organised and written as an accessible study guide for student pilots wishing to take commercial ground examinations to obtain ATPL or CPL licenses, Principles of Flight for Pilots also provides a reliable up-to-date reference for qualified and experienced personnel wishing to further improve their understanding of the Principles of Flight and related subjects. Providing a unique aerodynamics reference tool, unlike any book previously Principles of Flight for Pilots explains in significant depth all the topics necessary to pass the Principles of Flight examination as required by the EASA syllabus. Aviation ground instructor Peter J. Swatton, well reputed for his previous works in the field of pilot ground training, presents the subject in seven parts including basic aerodynamics; level flight aerodynamics; stability; manoeuvre aerodynamics; and other aerodynamic considerations. Each chapter includes self-assessed questions, 848 in total spread over eighteen chapters, with solutions provided at the end of the book containing full calculations and explanations.