How aircraft fly Flashcards
Typical glider ratios
17:1 and 20:1 for rigid wings
Is the wind direction of influence for gliders
Yes, headwind (wind towards you) can generate more lift
Influence of Wright’s Flyer
-first to achieve HtA flight, -dependent on wing warping, which later became ailerons, -highly efficient wings and propellers
Equation of Lift
C_L(1/2rhov^2)S
What does the coefficient of lift depend on?
On the angle of attack and geometry of the airfoil
Definition of a chord line
the line connecting the leading and trailing edge of the airfoil
Definition of a camber line
geometric locus of points equidistant between the upper and lower surfaces of the airfoil, mean curvature; influences pressure distribution;
Definition of Angle of Attack
the angle between the chord line and the relative wind speed vector
Definition of flaps
Trailing edge high-lift devices (increase wing surface area and camber)
Definition of slats
Leading edge high-lift devices (increase wing surface area and camber)
What does drag consist of?
Profile drag, which includes pressure and friction drag on wings, and parsitic drag (on fuselage)
Piston engine
Engine which uses cylinders with 4 cycles
Turbojet
Another 4 cycle engine but all stages happen simultanousely
Turbofan
Like a turbojet but with bypass air
Turboprop
Turbofan but with a propeller
Euler’s equation and the underlying assumptions
dp = -rhovdv, gravity is neglected, frictions is neglected, steady flow is assumed, flow may be compressible
