8.

3 THEORY OF FLIGHT

www.part66.blogspot.com
 FORCES ACTING ON AIRCRAFT IN
THRUST FLIGHT
• The aircraft’s 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