6.01 Theory of Flight

Slide 1 : Theory of Flight 6.01 Aircraft Design and Construction 40 min Ref: From the Ground Up, pages 9-14

Slide 2 : Parts of an Aircraft Types of Aircraft Construction Types of Landing Gear Definitions Standard Terminology Main Teaching Points:

Parts of the Airplane : Parts of the Airplane

Parts of the Airplane : Parts of the Airplane

Slide 5 :

Slide 6 : The fuselage is the main body of the aircraft, where the passengers, cargo and crew go.

Slide 7 : The fuselage is normally classed according to the type of construction: -Truss Type -Monocoque -Semi-monocoque

Slide 8 : Truss Type Fuselage -originally wood members with wire bracers -now made of steel tubes -longerons are the main members and run lengthwise -can be covered in fabric, metal or composite

Slide 9 :

Slide 10 : Semi-Monocoque Fuselage Stringers: lengthwise members used to hold bulkheads & formers in place and provide stiffness Formers – open crosswise members which provide additional shape and strength Bulkheads – solid formers that provide structural barriers as well as structure to attach equipment (firewall is a bulkhead) Skin - “stressed skin” provides strength

Slide 11 :

Slide 12 : Spars spanwise members wood or metal carry bending loads Ribs web or truss give wing its cambered shape

Slide 13 : Edges Leading Edge Trailing Edge Strength & Shape Wires Internal / External Bracing for strength Covering Metal or Fabric Metal  strength

Slide 14 : High Wing Mid Wing Low Wing Bi-Plane

Slide 15 : High Wing Mid Wing Low Wing Bi-Plane

Slide 16 : High Wing Mid Wing Low Wing Bi-Plane

Slide 17 : High Wing Mid Wing Low Wing Bi-Plane

Slide 18 :

Slide 19 : Conventional (Tail-Dragger) - Two main wheels and a tail wheel Tricycle – Two main wheels and a nose wheel Retractable - Wheels may be raised so that they are enclosed in wings or fuselage (reducing drag) Fixed - Landing gear is not designed to retract

Fixed Conventional Gear : Fixed Conventional Gear

Slide 21 :

Slide 22 :

Slide 23 :

Slide 24 : Retractable Landing Gear PROS Reduced drag at cruise Higher cruising speed CONS Added weight Added mechanical complexity Risk of “Gear Up” Landing (land based) Risk of “Gear Down” Landing (amphibious)

Slide 25 : Shock Absorption Soak the impact of landing, or the effect of bumps in runway. Spring steel Landing Gear Air/Oil oleos Rubber cords (bungee) or discs Low pressure tires.

Slide 26 : Main Landing Gear - Spring Steel Cantilever -

Slide 27 : Nose Landing Gear - Air / Oil Oleo -

Slide 28 : Brakes Provide a means of stopping the aircraft Assist with steering on the ground

Slide 29 : How would you describe the aircraft to the left? -tail dragger? -tricycle gear? -retractable gear? -float plane? -high wing? -low wing? -mid wing? -biplane? Request the use of the tools to label the aircraft.

Slide 30 : Wingspan is the maximum distance from wing tip to wing tip

Slide 31 : Chord is the imaginary line between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the wing A measure of the width of a wing

Slide 32 : Wing Area Length of wing multiplied by the average width of wing

Slide 33 : Planform Shape of the wing as seen from above

Slide 34 : Aspect Ratio Ratio of the span to chord of the wing A measure of how SLENDER the wing is

Slide 35 : Camber A measure of the curvature of an airfoil Mean Camber is the line equidistant between the upper & lower surfaces

Slide 36 : Angle of Incidence Angle between chord line and the longitudinal axis

Definitions... RELATIVE AIRFLOW : Definitions... RELATIVE AIRFLOW Relative Airflow Airflow over the wing Related to the forward motion of the aircraft through the air

Slide 38 : Angle of Attack The angle between the chord line and the relative airflow It is a measure of how much the wing ‘bites’ into the air

Confirmation Check : Confirmation Check

What kind of landing gear is this? : What kind of landing gear is this?

What is the angle of attack? : What is the angle of attack?

What are some of the differences between powered aircraft and gliders? : What are some of the differences between powered aircraft and gliders?

Slide 43 : Questions? Reading: From the Ground Up, pages 9-14 The next Theory of Flight Class covers the basic flight controls (6.02)