Lesson 1 Flashcards
1
Q
What are the four forces that act on an airplane while in flight?
A
Lift, Weight, Thrust, and Drag
2
Q
What 2 factors impact lift?
A
Relative Wind and Airfoil design
3
Q
When are lift/weight and thrust/drag equal?
A
In steady, unaccelerated flight
4
Q
What are the 2 types of drag?
A
Parasite and Induced
5
Q
What happens to parasite drag as the plane’s speed increases?
A
It increases exponentially
6
Q
What happens to induced drag as the plane’s speed increases
A
It decreases exponentially
7
Q
What are the four types of parasite drag?
A
- Form Drag - wind going around the plane
- Interference Drag - when different streams of airflow cause turbulence on the plane
- Skin Friction Drag - drag caused by the surface of the aircraft
8
Q
What is the Lift to Drag Ratio (LD Max)
A
The airspeed range at which the plane achieves the least amount of drag possible by minimizing the interaction of parasite and induced drag.
