Flight Theory and Aerodynamics: A Practical Guide for Operational Safety

Comprehensive introduction to aerodynamics applied to different types of modern aircraft, now updated with the latest FAA guidance Flight Theory and Aerodynamics provides an introduction to aerodynamics using practical application to modern aircraft with step-by-step calculations. This fifth edition streamlines content, notably the chapters on aircraft stability, and incorporates updated FAA guidance and figures from the 2023 Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge as well as other FAA handbooks. A balanced application of introductory physics and meteorology in the first five chapters evolves into an introduction to propeller and jet aircraft propulsion and eventually moves into a broad discussion on the application of physics to aircraft takeoff and landing performance. After the introductory material has been presented, principles from earlier in the textbook and prior coursework are correlated and applied to slow flight, aircraft stability, and high-speed flight. A new chapter on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight theory is included. The text features extensive instructor resources including detailed PowerPoint slides for each chapter, step-by-step guidance for end of chapter calculations, sample test bank questions for each chapter, and application sections within each chapter that allow the instructor to challenge the student with additional real-world scenarios based on chapter content. Flight Theory and Aerodynamics includes information on: Elements of the flight environment, covering forces, mass, scalar and vector quantities, linear and rotational motion, friction, and power Atmosphere, altitude, and airspeed measurement, covering properties of the atmosphere, Bernoulli’s equation, and pitot-static system advantages and disadvantages Jet aircraft performance, covering principles of propulsion, fuel flow, specific fuel consumption, and thrust-required curves Aircraft stability and control, covering oscillatory motion, weight and balance, and airplane reference axes Rotary-wing flight theory, airfoil selection, and helicopter control UAV flight theory, including UAV design considerations, the aerodynamics of UAV fuselage design, UAV powerplant design, and the future of UAV design and aerodynamics End of chapter questions focused on scenario-based learning as applied to the performance analysis of a Diamond DA50 and corresponding chapter material. In addition to degree-oriented college programs, this latest edition of Flight Theory and Aerodynamics is also an essential resource for pilot training programs ranging from student pilots to flight instructors as well as practicing professionals flying a wide range of aircraft.

Table of Contents:
About the Authors xiii Preface xv About the Companion Website xvii 1 Introduction to the Flight Environment 1 Introduction 2 History of Aerodynamics 2 Basic Quantities 6 Forces 7 Mass 8 Scalar and Vector Quantities 9 Moments 12 Equilibrium Conditions 12 Newton’s Laws of Motion 13 Energy and Work 14 Power 15 Friction 16 Introduction to Linear Motion 17 Introduction to Rotational Motion 19 Symbols 19 Equations 20 Key Terms 20 Problems 21 2 Atmosphere Altitude and Airspeed Measurement 25 Properties of the Atmosphere 25 ICAO Standard Atmosphere 30 Altitude Measurement 30 Continuity Equation 36 Bernoulli’s Equation 37 Airspeed Measurement 39 Symbols 46 Equations 47 Key Terms 47 Problems 48 3 Structures Airfoils and Aerodynamic Forces 53 Aircraft Structures 53 Airfoils 66 Development of Forces on Airfoils 73 Aerodynamic Force 74 Aerodynamic Pitching Moments 76 Aerodynamic Center 78 Accident Brief: Air Midwest Flight 5481 78 Symbols 79 Key Terms 80 Problems 80 4 Lift 85 Introduction to Lift 85 Angle of Attack 86 Boundary Layer Theory 91 Reynolds Number 93 Adverse Pressure Gradient 94 Airflow Separation 95 Stall 97 Aerodynamic Force Equations 99 Lift Equation 99 Airfoil Lift Characteristics 103 High Coefficient of Lift Devices 105 Effect of Ice and Frost 111 Lift During Flight Maneuvers 113 Symbols 117 Equations 117 Key Terms 117 Problems 118 5 Drag 123 Induced Drag 124 Ground Effect 132 Parasite Drag 137 Drag Equation 143 Total Drag 145 Lift-To-Drag Ratio 147 Drag Reduction 151 Symbols 155 Equations 155 Key Terms 156 Problems 156 6 Jet Aircraft Performance 161 Thrust-Producing Aircraft 162 Thrust-Required Curve 165 Principles of Propulsion 167 Thrust-Available Turbojet Aircraft 168 Specific Fuel Consumption 171 Fuel Flow 172 Thrust-Available/Thrust-Required Curves 173 Items of Aircraft Performance 174 Variations in the Thrust-Required Curve 182 Symbols 193 Equations 194 Key Terms 194 Problems 195 7 Propeller Aircraft Performance 199 Power Available 200 Principles of Propulsion 205 Power-Required Curves 208 Items of Aircraft Performance 215 Variations in the Power-Required Curve 223 Symbols 233 Equations 233 Key Terms 234 Problems 234 8 Takeoff Performance 241 Normal Takeoff 244 Improper Liftoff 250 Rejected Takeoffs 251 Initial Climb 260 Linear Motion 261 Factors Affecting Takeoff Performance 266 Symbols 273 Equations 274 Key Terms 274 Problems 274 9 Landing Performance 281 Prelanding Performance 284 Normal Landing 293 Improper Landing Performance 296 Hazards of Hydroplaning 300 Landing Deceleration Velocity and Distance 303 Landing Equations 309 Landing Environment 314 Symbols 318 Equations 319 Key Terms 319 Problems 320 10 Slow-Speed Flight 325 Region of Reversed Command 326 Stalls 330 Spins 340 Hazards During Slow-Speed Flight – Low-Level Wind Shear 346 Aircraft Performance in Low-Level Wind Shear 348 Hazards During Slow-Speed Flight – Turbulence 353 Equation 359 Key Terms 359 Problems 359 11 Maneuvering Performance 363 General Turning Performance 363 Load Factor 367 The V –G Diagram (Flight Envelope) 372 Load Factor and Flight Maneuvers 378 Energy Management 386 Symbols 391 Equations 392 Key Terms 392 Problems 393 12 Longitudinal Stability and Control 397 Definitions 398 Oscillatory Motion 400 Weight and Balance 401 Airplane Reference Axes 407 Static Longitudinal Stability 410 Dynamic Longitudinal Stability 424 Pitching Tendencies in a Stall 426 Longitudinal Control 430 Symbols 431 Equations 431 Key Terms 431 Problems 432 13 Directional and Lateral Stability 437 Static Directional Stability 437 Directional Control 445 Multi-Engine Flight Principles 452 Lateral Stability and Control 457 Static Lateral Stability 457 Lateral Control 464 Dynamic Directional and Lateral Coupled Effects 464 Symbols 470 Equations 471 Key Terms 471 Problems 471 14 High-Speed Flight 475 The Speed of Sound 476 High-Subsonic Flight 479 Design Features for High-Subsonic Flight 480 Transonic Flight 487 Supersonic Flight 491 Symbols 509 Equations 510 Key Terms 510 Problems 510 15 Rotary-Wing Flight Theory 515 Momentum Theory of Lift 517 Airfoil Selection 518 Forces on Rotor System 518 Thrust Development 520 Hovering Flight 521 Ground Effect 523 Rotor Systems 525 Dissymmetry of Lift in Forward Flight 527 High Forward Speed Problems 530 Helicopter Control 532 Helicopter Power-Required Curves 533 Power Settling Settling With Power and Vortex Ring State 535 Autorotation 537 Dynamic Rollover 540 Problems 540 16 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Theory 543 UAV Categorization 544 UAV Design 545 Aerodynamics of UAV Fuselage Design 547 UAV Powerplant Design 548 The Future of UAV Design and Aerodynamics 554 Key Terms 557 Answers to Problems 559 Bibliography 563 Index 571

About the Author :
Brian A. Johnson is a former regional airline pilot, corporate pilot, and part 141 chief ground instructor. He holds an ATP with an MEL rating, commercial pilot SEL/SES and sUAS, and currently serves as an active gold seal CFII/MEI, full-time company pilot, and a regional FAASTeam representative. Philip R. Fittante is a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with flight time in over 40 types of aircraft. He served as the Chief Developmental Test Pilot for the B-1B and B-2 bombers, possessing nearly 30 years of experience as an Air Force test pilot and Navy civilian test pilot and engineer.