FLYING TO RPL

Aerofoil

Cross section shape of the wing (SIDE VIEW)

Chord Line

A straight line joining the leading and trailing edge of the aerofoil

Relative Airflow

Relative motion between an aerofoil and the free stream airflow. Always opposite to the aerofoils motion

Angle of Attack

The angle between the chord line and the relative airflow.

Centre of Gravity

A position through which the aircraft's total weight acts

Centre of Pressure

A position through which total lifting force produced by the aerofoil acts

Camber

The curvature of the aerofoil. The mean camber line gives an average picture of the aerofoil curvature.

Static Pressure

Pressure which is felt from the weight of the atmosphere acting on an object.

Dynamic Pressure

The extra pressure which is felt on an object in motion through the atmosphere.

Bernoulli’s Theorem

Total pressure of a fluid remains CONSTANT when set in motion. While total pressure remains unchanged, STATIC PRESSURE DECREASES when there is an increase in fluid velocity.

Bernoulli’s Theorem EQN

Ptotal = Pstat + Pdynamic

Coanda effect

The phenomena in which a jet flow attaches itself to a nearby surface and remains attached even when the surface curves away from the initial jet direction.

LIFT EQN

If INDICATED AIRSPEED remains constant and ANGLE OF ATTACK increases, LIFT will…

INCREASE

The 3 Axis of Movement

Pitch, Yaw, Roll

Primary Effect of Elevator:

Pitching the nose up or down. Moves the aircraft about the LATERAL axis

Secondary Effect of Elevator:

Changing the pitch results in the change of the AIRSPEED and ALTITUDE

Primary Effect of Ailerons

Rolling the aircraft left or right. Moves the aircraft about the LONGITUDINAL axis

Secondary Effect of Ailerons

Once the aircraft is established in a roll a sideslip occurs resulting in YAW.

Primary Effect of Rudder

Yaws the aircraft left or right. Moves the aircraft about the NORMAL axis.

Secondary Effect of Rudder

As the aircraft yaws one wing travels faster than the other. This increase in airspeed results in more lift being generated on the outer wing. This results in a ROLL in the direction of the yaw.

What effect takes place when an aircrafts flaps are lowered?

Balloon effect

How do we combat a balloon effect?

Pitch plane nose downwards by placing downward pressure on control column.

What is trim used for?

Used to relieve a pilot’s elevator control load in flight

What is mixture used for?

Used to adjust the fuel/air ratio.

What is the IDEAL FUEL RATIO?

Approx 15 (air) : 1 (fuel)

What does the THROTTLE do?

Adjusts power delivery from the engine.

What does it control?

Controls the RPM of the engine.

What is a SLIPSTREAM?

The propeller is rotated clockwise then viewed from the cockpit creating a backwards spiral airflow. This spiral airflow hits the vertical stabiliser causing YAW, this must be counteracted by the use of the right rudder

What is an effect of POWER?

Increase in power causes the nose to pitch up and yaw left. The opposite occurs with decrease in power, (yaw right, pitch downwards).

At HIGH speed, what can the controls be described as?

Heavier and firmer, with a greater control response for given control surface definition.

At LOW speed, what can the controls be described as?

Light, less effective, less of a control response, so greater control input is required.

Skin friction drag

Exists between an object and the air moving around it.

Form drag

Results from airflow separation (where it leaves the surface), this can be reduced by streamlining sections of the aircraft. 

Interference drag

Caused by the mixing of airstreams travelling in multiple directions at various speeds. The mixing occurs at junctions (corners) which are part of the aircraft's design. The sharper the junction the greater the effect.

What are skin friction drag, interference drag AND form drag sub-catergories of?

PARASITE DRAG

Parasite drag will ____ with an INCREASE in airspeed.

INCREASE

Induced drag

Induced drag is a function of AoA, it occurs when high pressure under the wing spills over the wingtip as it tries to move to an area of lower pressure. The span wise airflow produced creates wingtip vortices which are amplified at higher AoA, generating even more induced drag.

Induced drag will ____ with an increase in airspeed being a function of AoA

DECREASE

What is TOTAL DRAG?

The sum of both parasite AND induced drag

Stability

The natural tendency for an aircraft to return to its original position following a disturbance

What are the two types of STABILITY?

Static and Dynamic

Static stability

Static stability is the initial tendency of an aircraft to revert to its original position following a disturbance. Static stability can be positive (stable), neutral or negative (unstable).

Dynamic stability

Dynamic stability is when an aircraft attempts to return to its original position but oscillates about this point over time. Dynamic stability can be positive, neutral or negative.

Longitudinal Stability

An aircraft with positive longitudinal stability is said to be stable about its lateral axis.

How can an aircraft be designed to achieve longitudinal stability?

With an horizontal stabiliser having a lower angle of incidence than the main aerofoil.

Lateral stability

An aircraft with positive lateral stability is said to be stable about its longitudinal axis.

How can aircraft designers can achieve lateral stability?

Through the use of the pendulous effect and/or dihedral wing design.

Directional stability

Directional stability is stability about the aircraft's normal axis.

What is the PAP for a NORMAL cruise?

Power - 2300 RPM Attitude - 3 or 4 fingers Performance - 110 KIAS

What is the PAP for a SLOW cruise?

Power - 2100 RPM Attitude - 2 fingers Performance - 80 KIAS

What is the PAP for a FAST cruise?

Power - 2500 RPM Attitude - 5 fingers Performance - 120 KIAS

What does ALAP stand for?

Attitude, Lookout, Attitude, Performance

What acronym is performed for PRE-ENTRY checks?

RHAL - Reference feature, Heading, Altitude and Lookout

In a climb, lift is ___ than weight

LESS

In headwind, ___ increases and ROC… what?

ANGLE OF CLIMB increases and Rate of climb REMAINS THE SAME

In tailwind, ___ decreases and ROC… what?

ANGLE OF CLIMB decreases and Rate of climb REMAINS THE SAME

Descending

? is less than weight

Thrust is ? than drag

Lift, LESS

When descending, to maintain a constant speed, what must be reduced?

THRUST

A high L/D ratio gives the aircraft a better ? range

GLIDE RANGE

Maximum Glide Range

Any deviation from ? kts will increase drag

68 KTS

Descending - Effect of Flaps

Flaps give a small ? in LIFT, and a greater ? in DRAG (proportionally), therefore they always ? the L:D ratio

INCREASE , INCREASE , DECREASE

If the angle of descent increases the angle in headwind, does the Rate of descent increase or decrease in headwind?

NEITHER, it remains the same

What is Centripetal force

The force which pulls you into a turn

What is Angle of bank

The angle (in degrees) between the lateral axis and the horizon

What is a Medium level turn

30 degrees AoB maintaining a constant altitude, balance and power.

An increase in lift (AoA) will also increase ____?

Drag

The natural stability of an aircraft is to yaw INTO the turn, BUT ___________ tends to yaw the aircraft OUT of the turn.

Adverse aileron yaw

What is the definition of Stalling 

Stalling is a state of flight in which the aircraft is not producing enough lift to sustain the weight of an aircraft.

Symptoms of a stall:

High nose attitude

Low decreasing IAS

Sloppy controls

Stall warning

Control buffet (at the onset of a stall)

Reducing the ______ is vital in the stall recovery; this is achieved by ______ back pressure. 

Angle of Attack , REDUCING

As stalling occurs at a particular angle (_____) the only way for the pilot to know when it will occur is to use the AoA to airspeed relationship.

What degree does a STALL occur?

16 DEGREES

What is the standard configuration speed of stall in a Cessna 172?

For the Cessna 172, this is 48 KIAS

What can cause a wing drop?

Aircraft is out of balance, turbulence, use of aileron or imperfections on the wings (ice or damage) 

We must NOT use _____ to correct a wing drop. This will further stall this wing and could cause the aircraft to enter a spin.

AILERONS

TYPES OF DESCENTS:

What is the PaP of a CRUISE descent?

Power: 2100rpm, attitude: 5 fingers, performance: -500fpm

TYPES OF DESCENTS:

What is the PaP of a GLIDE descent?

Power: idle, attitude: 2 fingers, performance: 68 KIAS

TYPES OF DESCENTS:

What is the PaP of an APPROACH (20 DEGREE FLAPS) descent?

Power: 1500 rpm, attitude: 4 fingers on top of compass, performance: 75 KIAS or -500 fpm

CLIMBS

Performance of a BroC?

74 KIAS

CLIMBS

Performance of a BaoC?

62 KIAS

CLIMBS

Performance of a cruise climb?

90 KIAS

CLIMBS

Attitude of a BroC?

Horizon in line with top of control panel screens

CLIMBS

Attitude of a BaoC?

Horizon in line with the artificial horizon on screen

CLIMBS

Attitude of a cruise climb?

Horizon in line with top of the control panel

What is our flap setting for approach descent?

Less than 110 KIAS = 10 degrees

Less than 85 KIAS = 20 degrees