Aerodynamic Mastery: Unraveling the Skies
G’day aspiring aviators! Ready to soar into the fundamentals of aerodynamics? Here’s why these principles are your wings in the making:
Aerofoil Insight: Dive into the heart of flight with a grasp of aerofoils. Learn to distinguish between various designs, setting the stage for understanding the very essence of lift.
Anatomy of Flight: Familiarize yourself with the essentials. From leading edges to trailing edges, chords to camber, absorb the language of aerodynamics. These are the ABCs of your aerial language.
The Dance of Airflow: Meet relative airflow and angle of attack, your dance partners in the skies. Understand how airflow behaves around an aerofoil and the magic of Bernoulli’s Theorem.
Pressure Play: Explore the world of pressures. Witness the changes as airflow speeds up or slows down. With diagrams, demystify the venturi effect and pressure distribution around a lifting aerofoil.
Center Stage – Lift and Drag: Meet the key players – Total Reaction (TR) and Centre of Pressure (CP). Learn how they dance with the angle of attack and differ between symmetrical and nonsymmetrical aerofoils.
Lift Formula Magic: Get hands-on with the lift formula. Understand the factors influencing lift, and peek at the critical stalling angle. Safety tip: Keep those aerofoils free from ice and frost!
Drag Drama: Unpack the different types – induced, parasite, and profile drag. List the elements of profile drag and understand the factors influencing both parasite and profile drag.
Drag Curves and Ratios: Identify curves showcasing the dance of parasite, profile, induced, and total drag. Dive into the beauty of lift/drag (L/D) ratio curves, finding that sweet spot for optimal performance.
Aerodynamics isn’t just about physics; it’s about the poetry of flight. So, buckle up for a thrilling ride through the principles that will soon become second nature as you take command of the skies. Happy learning!
12.6 Basic Aerodynamic Theory
12.6.2 Describe what an aerofoil is and distinguish between different aerofoil designs.
12.6.4 Define:
(a) leading edge; (b) trailing edge; (c) chord; (d) chord line; (e) thickness; (f) camber.
12.6.6 Define relative airflow and angle of attack.
12.6.8 Explain Bernoulli’s Theorem in simple terms.
12.6.10 Describe streamline airflow around an aerofoil.
12.6.12 Explain the changes which occur to dynamic and static pressure wherever the speed of the airflow is:
(a) increased; (b) decreased.
12.6.14 With the aid of diagrams, explain:
(a) venturi effect; (b) the pressure distribution around an aerofoil which is producing lift.
12.6.16 Define the terms:
(a) total reaction (TR); (b) centre of pressure (CP).
12.6.18 Describe how TR and CP change with increasing angle of attack for a lifting aerofoil.
12.6.20 Show how movement of the CP varies between symmetrical and nonsymmetrical aerofoils.
12.6.22 Define the Lift and Drag components of Total Reaction.
12.6.24 With respect to lift:
(a) State the lift formula; (b) summarise the factors affecting lift. (i.e. angle of attack, aerofoil shape, IAS).
12.6.26 Identify the primary factors determining the coefficient of lift (CL) for an aerofoil.
12.6.28 Describe a typical CL versus angle of attack curve (graph).
12.6.30 On a typical CL versus angle of attack curve, identify the critical stalling angle.
12.6.32 State the precaution against flying with ice, frost, snow or other contamination of the aerofoil surfaces.
12.6.34 Distinguish between induced drag, parasite and profile drag.
12.6.36 List the elements of profile drag.
12.6.38 State the factors affecting parasite drag, and profile (form and skin friction) drag.
12.6.40 Explain how induced drag varies depending on:
(a) angle of attack of the aerofoil; (b) aspect ratio.
12.6.42 Identify curves of parasite, profile, induced and total drag versus aerofoil airspeed.
12.6.44 Describe a typical curve of lift/drag (L/D) ratio versus angle of attack for a symmetrical aerofoil.
12.6.46 Identify the approximate angle for best L/D ratio.
