Fundamentals of
Flight
A Basic Introduction to
Aerodynamics
Course Objectives
Introduction.
Be familiar with aircraft components.
The flight theory [basic principals]
Forces and constraints affecting the flight.
Aircraft flight controls.
Aircrafts
An aircraft is a flying vehicle called a heavier than air
vehicle. It needs a source of power without which it won’t
be able to fly and it becomes like a stone in the air.
A lighter than air vehicle doesn’t need a source of power
to fly such as balloons and air ships.
Montgolfier brothers in Annonay, France in 1783
History of flight
In 17 December 1903, the Wright brothers have made
the first successful flight for a heavier than air aircraft.
They flew in the air for a distance of 852 feet [290m.]
in 59 seconds. It was the first heavier-than-air,
powered aircraft to make a sustained, controlled flight
with a pilot aboard.
The Four Forces of Flight
The four forces act on the airplane in flight
and also work against each other.
The Four Forces of Flight
The four forces act on the airplane in flight
and also work against each other.
What’s it take to create
?lift
.Air and motion
How do we explain lift?
Newton’s Laws of Motion and
Bernoulli’s Principal are used to
explain lift.
Newton's Third Law of Motion
Newton’s Third Law states that for every action
there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Newton's 3rd law (F = -F)
.Newton's 3rd law If a plane flies at constant speed, it stays in the air due to
The direct pressure of the air pushing on the bottom of the wing keeps the plane
in the air. In other words, as the wing pushes down on the air, the air pushes up
ith an equal and opposite force. Newton's 3rd law states that forces always com
in equal and opposite pairs. For instance, if you push on a wall, the wall pushes
ack with the same amount of force. Newton's 3rd law always governs during the
flight of a plane
Bernoulli's Principle
where: P = pressure (force exerted divided by area exerted on)
rho = density of the fluid V = velocity of the moving object or fluid
where: P = pressure V = velocity A = cross sectional area of flow
Bernoulli's Principle: slower moving
air below the wing creates greater
pressure and pushes up.
Bernoulli’s Theory in Action
Air speeds up in the constricted space between
the car & truck creating a low-pressure area.
Higher pressure on the other outside pushes
them together.
How can an airplane fly upside down?
A wing creates lift due to a combination
of Bernoulli’s Principal & Newton’s
Third Law
Aircraft Components
Wings and Airfoils
The wing is responsible of
producing the necessary
lift force for an aircraft.
An airfoil is the cross-
section of an aircraft
wing, and it has a shape
with aerodynamic
properties.
Aircraft Components
Airfoil Parameters
1. Leading edge
2. Trailing edge
3. Camber line
4. Chord line
5. Airfoil thickness
distribution Symmetric airfoil
6. Airfoil maximum
thickness and camber
Cambered airfoil
Applications over airfoils
An important application of the Bernoulli’s principal is
made in giving lift to the wing of an airplane, an airfoil.
The airfoil is designed to increase the velocity of the
airflow above its surface, thereby decreasing pressure
above the airfoil. Simultaneously, the impact of the air on
the lower surface of the airfoil increases the pressure
below. This combination of pressure decrease above and
increase below produces lift.
Applications over airfoils
In order to generate lift, a
wing must do the action in
the air while lift is the
reaction [Newton’s 3rd
law].
For more lift the wing can
either divert more air
(mass) or increase its
downward velocity. This
downward velocity behind
the wing is called
"downwash" [Newton’s
2nd law].
Basic Forces Acting On An
Aircraft
There are 4 basic forces acting on an aircraft
while flying in the air.
1. Thrust
2. Drag
3. Lift
4. Weight (gravity)
Basic Forces Acting on an
aircraft
Thrust and lift are artificially created forces used
to overcome the forces of nature and enable an
airplane to fly.
Lift opposes Weight
Thrust opposes Drag
The engine is designed to produce thrust to
overcome drag.
The wing is designed to produce lift to overcome
the weight (gravity).
Flight Directions and
Controls
Longitudinal Axis: Motion
about it is roll and is
produced by movement of
the ailerons located at the
trailing edges of the wings.
Lateral Axis: Motion about
it is pitch and is produced by
movement of the elevators
at the rear of the horizontal
tail assembly.
Vertical Axis: Motion about
it is yaw and is produced by
movement of the rudder
located at the rear of the
vertical tail assembly.
Primary Flight Control
Surfaces
• Ailerons roll function
• Trimmable horizontal stabilizer pitch function (large
movement)
• Elevator pitch function (small movement)
• Rudder yaw function
• Roll spoilers helps in the roll function at low speeds
Flight Control Surfaces And
Rotations
Secondary Flight Control
Surfaces
Flaps increase lift of the wing.
Slats delays the flow separation over the airfoil.
Outer and inner speed brakes (spoilers) decrease
the aircraft speed by spoiling the lift over the wing.
AIRPLANE
PARTS
Ailerons Control Roll
The AILERONS
control ROLL. On the
outer rear edge of
each wing, the two
ailerons move in
opposite directions,
up and down,
decreasing lift on one
wing while increasing
it on the other. This
causes the airplane to
roll to the left or right.
Elevator Controls Pitch
The ELEVATOR
controls PITCH. On
the horizontal tail
surface, the elevator
tilts up or down,
decreasing or
increasing lift on the
tail. This tilts the
nose of the airplane
up and down.
Rudder Controls Yaw
The RUDDER controls
YAW. On the vertical tail
fin, the rudder swivels
from side to side,
pushing the tail in a left
or right direction. A pilot
usually uses the rudder
along with the ailerons
to turn the airplane.
Airplane Parts
Aircraft Components
An aircraft is an airframe structure on which engines are
mounted and is controlled in the air.
Aircraft Components
1. Fuselage
2. Wings
3. Engines
4. Tail Unit
5. Landing Gear
6. Nose (Radome)
Thanks For your Attention
?QUESTIONS
Best Wishes & Good Luck
Eng. Amr el Kady
