Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By – Pratik Mistry
Objectives
• To establish and maintain straight and level
flight at:
a constant airspeed;
constant altitude;
in a constant direction; and,
in balance.
• To regain straight and level flight; and,
• To maintain straight and level flight at
selected airspeeds or power settings.
Principles of Flight topics
• Straight and Level - Definition
• Flying Attitude
• The Four Forces
• Lift
• Performance
Straight and Level - Definition
For Straight and Level Flight, the aircraft is travelling:
in a Constant Direction (straight),
at a Constant Altitude (level) and
at a Constant Speed
i.e. not climbing or descending, and not accelerating.
The aircraft is in a state of Equilibrium.
Therefore the opposing forces acting on the aircraft
must be equal to, and opposite to each other.
Flying Attitude
The Horizon
All VFR flight references the aircraft’s nose to
the horizon
In comparison:
Lift = Weight Lift and Weight are
about 10 times greater
than Thrust and Drag
Thrust = Drag
The Four Forces
Centre of Pressure (CP) is usually rearward of CofG.
This creates a ‘Pitch Down’ couple.
n
D o LIFT Drag is normally designed to be above
w
it ch the engine Thrust line.
P
This creates a ‘Pitch Up’ couple.
p
DRAG
THRUST
The tailplane is used to balance
out any difference in the pitching
couples.
WEIGHT
Usually a small Downward force
Lift
Pressure Distribution and Total Resultant
Drag
Lift
Chord
Line
AOA
RAF
Lift
L = CL½ρV2S
CL Coefficient of Lift
For a given wing shape and AoA
ρ Rho
The density of the air
V Speed
True Airspeed (TAS)
S Wing Area - generally constant
A change in CL, ρ, or V = a change in Lift
Lift
L = CL½ρV2S
L AoA x IAS
P A T
Power Attitude Trim
Cruise Elevator Relieve Pressure
C152/PA38 Level attitude Trim is Your Friend
(2300 RPM) Ailerons
Wings level
Rudder
Balance
Attitude Correct
Confirmation