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PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT
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Principles of Flight
This Presentation
• Forces Acting on an Aeroplane
– Straight Horizontal Steady Flight
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Syllabus Progress
POF 1-3 POF 4-6 POF 7-9 POF 10-12 POF 13-15
POF 16-18 POF 19-21 POF 22-24 POF 25-27 POF 28-30
POF 31-33 POF 34-36 POF 37-39 POF 40-42 POF 43-45
POF 46-48 POF 49-51 POF 52-54 OPS 55-57 OPS 58-60
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• The forces acting upward must exactly balance the forces acting downward;
• The forces acting forward must exactly balance the forces acting backward, and;
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Weight acts through the aircraft centre of gravity (CG), vertically downwards towards the centre
of the earth. Lift acts through the centre of pressure (CP), normal (at 90°) to the flight path.
Thrust acts forwards, parallel to the flight path and drag acts backwards.
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This unaccelerated condition of flight is achieved with the aircraft trimmed, lift equal to weight
and thrust equal to drag. It can be said that for level flight the opposing forces must be equal.
The lines of action of thrust and drag lie very close together, so the moment of this couple is
very small and can be neglected for this study.
The position of the CP and CG are variable and under most conditions of level flight are not
coincident. The CP moves forward with increasing angle of attack and the CG moves with
reduction in fuel.
Generally, the CP is forward of the CG at low speed, giving a nose-up pitching moment and
behind the CG at high speed, giving a nose-down pitching moment.
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The function of the tailplane is to maintain equilibrium by supplying the force necessary to
counter any pitching moments arising from CP and CG movement. With the CP behind the CG
during normal cruise, the tailplane must supply a downforce.
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If the tailplane is producing a balancing force, this will add to or subtract from the lift force.
For steady level flight at a constant weight, the lift force required will be constant. At a steady
speed the wing will give this lift at a given angle of attack. However, if the speed is changed, the
angle of attack must change to maintain the same lift.
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For steady level flight at a constant speed, the thrust must equal the drag. Drag increases with
speed (above VMD) and so to maintain a higher speed, the thrust must be increased.
To fly at the speed at point A, requires a thrust of T1 and to fly at point B requires a thrust of T2.
If thrust is increased from T1 to T2 when the aircraft is at point A, the thrust will be greater then
the drag and the aircraft will accelerate in proportion to the ‘excess’ thrust until it reaches B.
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• Other acting in the same direction as Drag (W sin γ), backwards along the flight path.
• Thrust must equal the sum of Drag plus the backwards component of Weight and;
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L = W cos γ
T = D + W sin γ
In a straight steady climb, Lift is less than Weight because Lift only has to support a proportion
of the weight, this proportion decreasing as the climb angle increases. The remaining
proportion of Weight is supported by engine Thrust.
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𝑇−𝐷
sin 𝛾 =
𝑊
The ability of an aircraft to climb depends upon excess thrust available after opposing
aerodynamic drag.
The smaller the Drag for a given Thrust, the greater the ability to climb.
Drag will be less with flaps up, giving a larger climb angle (improved climb gradient).
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Climb Angle
Climb angle depends on “excess Thrust” ( T - D ) and Weight. As both Thrust and Drag vary with
IAS, excess Thrust will be greatest at VX, which is the maximum climb angle speed.
The variation of Thrust with speed will depend on the type of engine:
• For a jet engine, where Thrust is fairly constant with speed, VX will be near to VMD;
Climb Angle
Effect of Weight, Altitude and Temperature
The Drag of an aircraft at a given IAS is not affected by altitude or temperature, but higher
Weight will increase Drag and reduce excess Thrust and, consequently, the climb angle.
Thrust available from the engine decreases with increasing altitude and increasing temperature,
which also reduces excess Thrust.
Climb angle therefore decreases with increasing Weight, altitude and temperature.
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• One component (W cos γ) acts perpendicular to the flight path and is balanced by Lift and;
• Other component (W sin γ) acts forward along the flight path and ‘adds’ to the Thrust.
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The increased IAS will result in an increase in Drag which will eventually balance the increased
forward force of Weight and equilibrium will be re-established.
If the force of Thrust is removed, a larger forward component of Weight must be provided to
balance Drag and maintain a constant IAS. This is accomplished by lowering the nose of the
aeroplane to increase the descent angle (γ).
• In a descent Lift is less than Weight. This is because Lift only has to balance the component
of Weight perpendicular to the flight path (W cos γ).
• In a descent Thrust is less than Drag. This is because Weight is giving a forward component
in the same direction as Thrust (W sin γ).
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In a glide there are only three forces acting on the aircraft: Lift, Weight and Drag.
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In a steady glide, the forward component of weight must balance Drag. If Drag is reduced and
Lift remains constant, the balance of forces can be achieved at a smaller descent angle.
The descent (glide) angle will be least when the L/D ratio is the greatest. L/D ratio is a maximum
at the optimum angle of attack, and this also corresponds to the minimum drag speed (VMD).
At speeds above or below VMD the glide angle will be steeper. Maximum distance in a glide can
be achieved when the aircraft is flown at L/DMAX (VMD).
At a higher weight the aircraft will glide the same distance but at a higher speed, and
consequently it will have an increased rate of descent.
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The glide angle will determine the distance that the aircraft can glide for a given change of
height.
𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝐿
𝐺𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 =
𝐷𝑅𝐴𝐺 𝐷
This distance would only be achieved in still air. If there is a wind, the ground speed will change,
and so the distance over the ground will change. In a headwind the ground distance will be
decreased, and in a tailwind it will be increased.
Effect of Configuration
The maximum L/D ratio of an aircraft will be obtained in the clean configuration. Extension of
flaps, spoilers, speedbrakes or landing gear etc. will reduce L/DMAX and give a steeper glide
angle, thus reducing glide range.
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Minimum rate of descent in the glide is obtained at the IAS which produces minimum Power
Required (VMP). Flying at VMP in a glide will enable the aircraft to stay airborne for as long as
possible.
VMP is a slower IAS than VMD. Wind speed and direction has no effect on rate of descent. A
frequently used method of showing the relationship of VMD and VMP is by use of the ‘whole
aeroplane CL/CD polar’ curve.
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Emergency Descent
In the event of cabin pressurization failure at high altitude it is necessary to descend as quickly
as possible. The rate of descent can be increased by:
• Reducing Thrust;
• Increasing speed by lowering the nose. Speed can be increased in the clean configuration up
to MMO or VMO depending on the altitude, or to the gear extended limit speed (VLE) if the
gear is down.
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Emergency Descent
The overall rate of descent will be higher with the landing gear extended (lots of Drag), but if
the gear operating limit speed (VLO) is much less than the cruising speed, the aircraft will have to
be slowed down before the gear can be lowered (perhaps taking several minutes in level flight).
So the initial rate of descent will be relatively low and the time spent at high altitude will be
extended.
If the gear is not extended, thrust is set to Idle, speedbrakes extended and the nose lowered to
accelerate the aircraft to MMO/VMO immediately, giving a higher initial rate of descent and
getting the passengers down to a lower altitude without delay.
At high altitude the limiting speed will be MMO, and if an emergency descent is made at this
Mach number, the IAS will be increasing. At some altitude the IAS will reach VMO, and the nose
must then be raised so as not to exceed VMO for the remainder of the descent.
The rate of descent possible during an emergency descent can be quite high, so as the required
level-off altitude is approached, the rate of descent should be reduced progressively so as to
give a smooth transition back to level flight.
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Coffee Break
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If the aircraft is banked and the angle of attack kept constant, the vertical component of lift will
be too small to balance the weight and the aircraft will start to descend.
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The vertical component must be large enough to maintain level flight, while the horizontal
component is large enough to produce the required centripetal force.
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For the same TAS and angle of bank, the radius of turn is independent of the aircraft weight.
If weight increases, the vertical component of lift required increases, but the centripetal force to
maintain the same radius of turn also increases in the same proportion.
Lift required is greater but has the same inclination as before and bank angle is the same.
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𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠Φ = 𝑊 (1)
𝑊𝑉
𝐿 sin Φ = (2)
𝑟𝑔
Where:
Which is the basic turning equation relating (V), (r) and φ. Once two of these variables are
known, the other one can be determined.
𝑽𝟐
From equation 3, the radius of turn is given by: 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔 =
𝒈 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝜱
𝒈 𝒕𝒂𝒏
The rate of turn (V/r) equation is given by: 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏 = , 𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔
𝑽
Rate of turn is directly proportional to TAS and inversely proportional to the turn radius:
𝑻𝑨𝑺
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏 =
𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏
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• At a constant TAS, increasing the angle of bank decreases the turn radius and increases the
rate of turn.
• To maintain a constant rate of turn, increasing speed requires an increased bank angle.
• At a constant bank angle, increasing speed increases the turn radius and decreases the rate
of turn.
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Principles of Flight
At a speed of 150 kt TAS (77 m/s), an aircraft performing a turn with a radius of 1480 metres
would have a rate of turn of:
• = 0.052 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠/𝑠𝑒𝑐
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• Bank angle (φ). A steeper bank reduces turn radius and increases the rate of turn, but
produces a higher load factor.
• True airspeed (TAS): Reducing speed reduces turn radius and increases the rate of turn,
without increasing the load factor.
The radius of turn, at any given bank angle (φ), varies directly with the square of the TAS:
𝑽𝟐 𝒈 𝒕𝒂𝒏
𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔 = 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏 =
𝒈 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝜱 𝑽
• If speed is doubled, the turn radius will be four times greater, at a constant bank angle.
• If speed is doubled, the rate of turn will be half of its previous value, at a constant bank
angle.
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A specific angle of bank and TAS will produce the same rate and radius of turn regardless of
weight, CG position, or aeroplane type. Increasing speed increases the turn radius and
decreases the rate of turn. The load factor remains the same because the bank angle has not
changed.
To increase the rate and decrease the radius of turn, steepen the bank and/or decrease the
speed.
A given TAS and bank angle will produce a specific rate and radius of turn in any aeroplane. In a
coordinated level turn, an increase in airspeed will increase the radius and decrease the rate of
turn.
The load factor for a given bank angle is the same at any speed.
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𝑳 𝟏
𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 = = = 𝒔𝒆𝒄Φ
𝑾 𝒄𝒐𝒔Φ
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It can be seen that load factor (n) increases with bank angle at an increasing rate.
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For each aircraft there is a design limit load factor. For modern high speed jet transport aircraft
the positive limit load factor is 2.5g. From the previous graph, it can be seen that this would
occur at a bank angle of 67°, and this will determine a turn radius, depending on the TAS. This
will be the minimum radius permissible at that ‘g’ if the strength limit is not to be exceeded.
If speed is kept constant, but the bank angle increased, the angle of attack must also be
increased to provide the increased lift required. Eventually the stalling angle will be reached,
and no further increase in bank angle (and decrease in turn radius) is possible. Because the
stalling speed varies with weight, this boundary will be a function of weight.
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During a turn lift must be greater than during level flight, and this will result in increased
induced drag. To balance this additional drag, more thrust is required in a turn than for level
flight at the same speed. The greater the bank angle, the greater will be the thrust required. No
further increase in bank angle (and decrease in turn radius) is then possible. The relative
positions of the thrust boundary and the strength boundary will depend on the limit load factor
and thrust available.
If the thrust available is adequate, the minimum radius of turn occurs at the intersection of the
stall limit and the strength limit. The speed at this point is VA, the maximum manoeuvring speed.
The heavier the aircraft, the greater the minimum radius of turn.
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Uncoordinated flight exists when the aircraft is sideslipping. Indication of sideslip is given to the
pilot by the inclinometer portion (ball) of the turn coordinator. The miniature aeroplane
indicates rate of turn.
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If aileron and rudder are coordinated during a turn, the ball will remain centered and there will
be no sideslip.
If the aircraft is sideslipping, the ball moves away from the centre of the tube.
Slipping Turn – Sideslipping towards the centre of the turn moves the ball to the inside.
Skidding Turn - Sideslipping towards the outside of the turn moves the ball to the outside.
To correct for these conditions and maintain coordinated flight, “step on the ball.” Bank angle
may also be varied to help restore coordinated flight from a sideslip.
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Questions
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a) Upward;
b) Downward;
c) Zero;
d) Forward.
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b) Lift acts perpendicular to the chord line and must be greater than weight;
c) Thrust acts forward parallel to the relative wind and is greater than drag;
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a) Wind speed;
d) Excess airspeed.
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d) Different radius are possible, one to the right and one to the left.
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d) Insufficient bank.
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a) Increase;
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a) 9 g;
b) 2 g;
c) 6 g;
d) 3 g.
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