Flight Training - August 2024 - 42
How does an airplane fly?
You know the basic answer-lift and money-but
you might not know the details behind it. We are
constantly changing our airplane's lift in flight, and
while we likely understand what steps we have to
take-add more power here, more back-pressure
here-we might not understand the aerodynamic
whys behind those steps. Understanding the lift
equation can help clarify why you do what you do
during each of your maneuvers.
If the lift equation seems like going above and
beyond, it is. But historically speaking, the best pilots
also understand the hows and the whys. Aerodynamics
for Naval Aviators says, " ...the safety and effectiveness
of flying operations will depend greatly on the
understanding and appreciation of how and why an
airplane flies. The principles of aerodynamics will
provide the foundations for developing exacting and
precise flying techniques and operational procedures. "
If it's important to our friends Maverick and Iceman, it
should be important to us.
The Lift Equation
L = CL
ρ V2
----
2
Lift = coefficient x density x velocity squared x wing area
2
Coefficient CL
contains all the complex dependencies
and is usually determined experimentally.
A
First, what is lift, really? Here's ANA's technical
definition: " The net force developed perpendicular
to the relative wind. The aerodynamic force of lift on
an airplane results from the generation of a pressure
distribution on the wing. " If the lift pushing you up is
greater than the weight and drag pulling down, you
initiate a climb. When it is lower, you start a descent.
Makes sense.
Philosophically, the lift equation is the Rosetta
Stone of aviation, giving us mere mortals the means
to decode the magic math of flight. Beautiful in the
simple way it explains a complex component of
flight, the lift equation is the answer to all things
airplane. Understanding it will illuminate the
logic behind each maneuver and you'll understand
why you're doing what you're doing (beyond just
because your flight instructor told you to). When
it clicks, you'll feel like you've learned a new
language overnight.
42
FLIGHT TRAINING AUGUST 2024
As pilots, there are a few things we can manipulate
in flight to change our airplane's lift while performing
maneuvers. The character that looks like a lower-case
p is rho, which represents air density. Density changes
with altitude, but at typical general aviation levels, it
won't change much and is more fixed than the other
variables in this equation. Since we can't significantly
modify rho, we won't pay much attention to it right
now. But we can change our velocity and our coefficient
of lift, and sometimes, our wing area.
Devices like flaps change the shape of our wing, creating a
" new " airfoil and compensating for our lowered velocity in
phases of flight like landing.
MIKE FIZER
Flight Training - August 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - August 2024
Contents
Flight Training - August 2024 - Intro
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover1
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover2
Flight Training - August 2024 - Contents
Flight Training - August 2024 - 2
Flight Training - August 2024 - 3
Flight Training - August 2024 - 4
Flight Training - August 2024 - 5
Flight Training - August 2024 - 6
Flight Training - August 2024 - 7
Flight Training - August 2024 - 8
Flight Training - August 2024 - 9
Flight Training - August 2024 - 10
Flight Training - August 2024 - 11
Flight Training - August 2024 - 12
Flight Training - August 2024 - 13
Flight Training - August 2024 - 14
Flight Training - August 2024 - 15
Flight Training - August 2024 - 16
Flight Training - August 2024 - 17
Flight Training - August 2024 - 18
Flight Training - August 2024 - 19
Flight Training - August 2024 - 20
Flight Training - August 2024 - 21
Flight Training - August 2024 - 22
Flight Training - August 2024 - 23
Flight Training - August 2024 - 24
Flight Training - August 2024 - 25
Flight Training - August 2024 - 26
Flight Training - August 2024 - 27
Flight Training - August 2024 - 28
Flight Training - August 2024 - 29
Flight Training - August 2024 - 30
Flight Training - August 2024 - 31
Flight Training - August 2024 - 32
Flight Training - August 2024 - 33
Flight Training - August 2024 - 34
Flight Training - August 2024 - 35
Flight Training - August 2024 - 36
Flight Training - August 2024 - 37
Flight Training - August 2024 - 38
Flight Training - August 2024 - 39
Flight Training - August 2024 - 40
Flight Training - August 2024 - 41
Flight Training - August 2024 - 42
Flight Training - August 2024 - 43
Flight Training - August 2024 - 44
Flight Training - August 2024 - 45
Flight Training - August 2024 - 46
Flight Training - August 2024 - 47
Flight Training - August 2024 - 48
Flight Training - August 2024 - 49
Flight Training - August 2024 - 50
Flight Training - August 2024 - 51
Flight Training - August 2024 - 52
Flight Training - August 2024 - 53
Flight Training - August 2024 - 54
Flight Training - August 2024 - 55
Flight Training - August 2024 - 56
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover3
Flight Training - August 2024 - Cover4
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