8.

3 THEORY OF FLIGHT

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 FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN
THRUST FLIGHT
The aircrafts propelling force
Arranged symmetrically to the
centre line
Act parallel to the line of flight
WEIGHT@ GRAVITY
Acts vertically downwards through
the Centre of Gravity
FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT
LIFT
Acts at right angle to the line of
flight & through the Centre of
Pressure of the wings
DRAG
Opposes the forward motion
Regarded as a rearward acting
force
 FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN
FLIGHT
An aircraft flying at constant height and speed
LIFT = WEIGHT
THRUST = DRAG
Under these condition
i. Angle of attack altered to adjust the production of lift
exactly equals the weight which it must support
ii. Engine thrust set to exactly equal the aircraft drag
generated at that particular speed

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces
Lift = Weight and Thrust = Drag

Aircraft tend to rotate nose up or nose down if the forces line

of action not correctly arranged

Proper arrangement of the forces (depends on aircraft design)

i. Centre of pressure aft of centre of gravity nose

down

ii. Thrust line below drag line nose up

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces

LIFT

WEIGHT

LIFT and WEIGHT = nose down couple

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces
THRUST and DRAG = nose up couple

DRAG THRUST

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 Arrangement of forces
THRUST and DRAG = nose up couple

LIFT

DRAG THRUST

WEIGHT

LIFT and WEIGHT = nose down couple

FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT

 GLIDE
Condition aircraft with no thrust from engine
Glide ratio distance covered to hight lost
Highest Lift/Drag ratio give maximun distance
by flying with minimunm drag
 FLIGHT ENVELOPE
Load factor is ratio of aircraft lift to its weight
Flight envelope discribe aerodynamic and
structural limitation of aircraft
Pilot fly the aircraft based on the envelope