Exercise 6: Straight and Level

Exercise 6
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting the aircraft
 Factors effecting
 Coupling effect
 Altitude
 Weight
 Weight
 Lift
 Flaps
 Drag
 Range
 Thrust
 Endurance
 Summary
DEFINITION

 Straight and level flight is that the condition of flight whereby the aircraft is
flown in balance at a constant altitude and direction at varying speeds,
power settings and configurations, with reference to both visual and
instrument attitude indications
 AIM

 To give the student a good understanding and thorough knowledge of the

principles required to fly the aircraft straight and level at different attitudes,
trim and power setting at various speeds and aircraft configurations
 HOW THE EXERCISE
APPLIES TO FLYING
 It forms the basis for attitude flying which is important throughout all flying
 Navigation
 Range and endurance
 Circuit work
 Instrument flying
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting  Factors effecting

the aircraft  Altitude

 Weight
 Coupling effect
 Flaps
 Weight
 Range
 Lift
 Endurance
 Drag
  Summary
Thrust
FORCE ACTING ON THE
AIRCRAFT

Lift
Thrust Drag
Weight
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting  Factors effecting

the aircraft  Altitude

 Weight
 Coupling effect  Flaps
 Weight  Range
 Lift  Endurance
 Drag  Summary
 Thrust
 COUPLING EFFECT
Weight acts through the
centre of gravity L

Lift acts through the

Centre of pressure

T D
Lift/weight couple will
cause the aircraft to
pitch to the
undercarriage

W Balancing
Thrust/drag couple will
aerodynamic
cause the aircraft to
force
pitch to the canopy
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting  Factors effecting

the aircraft  Altitude

 Weight
 Coupling effect
 Flaps
 Weight  Range
 Lift  Endurance
 Drag  Summary
 Thrust
Weight

C.O.G

Weight

 Weight is the combined load of the aircraft

 Acts through the centre of gravity
 WEIGHT

We can either decrease

the A.O.A or decrease
power

As we fly we burn fuel reducing

the weight of the aircraft
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting  Factors effecting

the aircraft  Altitude

 Weight
 Coupling effect
 Flaps
 Weight
 Range
 Lift
 Endurance
 Drag  Summary
 Thrust
Lift

Lift
C.O.P

 Lift is the opposing force to weight

 Lift acts through the COP and perpendicular to the
flight path
Lift Formula
velocity per second squared
Coefficient of lift
Changes as the speed changes
Changes as A.O.A changes

Lift = CL ½ρ V² S
air density surface area
SPEED/ATTITUDE
RELATIONSHIP

Lift = A.o.A x V²
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting  Factors effecting

the aircraft  Altitude

 Weight
 Coupling effect
 Flaps
 Weight
 Range
 Lift
 Endurance
 Drag
 Summary
 Thrust
Drag

Drag

 Drag is the resistance force opposing the motion of the body

 Total Drag is made up of two types of Drag, Parasite Drag
and Induced Drag
Drag
Interference Drag

Parasite Drag
Form Drag

Total Drag Profile Drag

Skin Friction Drag

Induced Drag
MINIMUM DRAG
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting  Factors effecting

the aircraft  Altitude

 Weight
 Coupling effect
 Flaps
 Weight
 Range
 Lift
 Endurance
 Drag
 Summary
 Thrust
Thrust

Thrust

 Thrust is the forward force produced by the engine and

propeller
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim
 Thrust required
 Why is it being taught
and available
 Forces affecting the aircraft  Power requires and available
 Coupling effect  Factors effecting
 Weight  Altitude
 Lift  Weight
  Flaps
Drag
  Range
Thrust
 Endurance
 Summary
THRUST REQUIRED

The thrust required curve is exactly the

Same as the total drag curve
THRUST AVAILABLE

Thrust available
available
Thrust

V stall V
THRUST REQUIRED/THRUST
AVAILABLE
Thrust available
available
Thrust

Thrust required

V stall V
THRUST TO POWER

 We know that Thrust = Force

 Force = M.A

 If we take the Force and multiply it by the distance we move

the object we get Work
 Work = Force x Distance

 If when know take work and divide it into time we get

Power
 Power = Work
Time
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and available
 Why is it being taught  Power requires
 Forces affecting the aircraft and available
 Coupling effect  Factors effecting
 Weight  Altitude
 Lift  Weight
  Flaps
Drag
  Range
Thrust
 Endurance
 Summary
 POWER REQUIRED

Thrust
available

required

Required
Thrust

Power
Power required

V stall V
V min power V
P = F.D (V)
T

P=T.V
 POWER AVAILABLE

Thrust
available
available
Thrust

Power available

V stall V
Available
Power

V Stall V
POWER REQUIRED/POWER
AVAILABLE

Power available
Power

Power required

V Stall V min power V max V

LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

  Thrust required and
Aim
available
 Why is it being taught  Power requires and available
 Forces affecting the aircraft

 Factors effecting
Coupling effect
 Weight  Altitude
 Lift  Weight
 Drag  Flaps
 Thrust  Range
 Endurance
 Summary
POWER REQUIRED AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDES

At ceiling

At altitude
At sea level
POWER AVAILABLE AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDES

At sea level At altitude

At ceiling
POWER AVAILABLE/POWER REQUIRED AT DIFFERENT
ALTITUDES

At sea level At altitude

At ceiling
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

  Thrust required and
Aim
available
 Why is it being taught  Power requires and available
 Forces affecting the aircraft

 Factors effecting
Coupling effect
  Altitude
Weight
 Lift  Weight
 Drag  Flaps
 Thrust  Range
 Endurance
 Summary
EFFECT OF WEIGHT
Power
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

  Thrust required and
Aim
available
 Why is it being taught  Power requires and available
 Forces affecting the aircraft

 Factors effecting
Coupling effect
  Altitude
Weight
  Weight
Lift
 Drag  Flaps
 Thrust  Range
 Endurance
 Summary
EFFECT OF FLAP AND
UNDERCARRAGE
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting the aircraft
 Factors effecting
 Coupling effect
 Altitude
 Weight
 Weight
 Lift
 Flaps
 Drag
 Thrust  Range
 Endurance
 Summary
FLYING FOR RANGE

 The object of flying for range is to fly the max distance on a

given amount of fuel
• In order to fly for max range
• Fly at I.A.S for best lift to drag ratio
• Fly at the full throttle height for the required power setting
• Lean the mixture to the correct value
• Fly the aeroplane at a minimum weight as any further weight
increases adversely affects the range

• Why do we fly for range

• So when we fly a Navigation we know if we are able to fly to our
destination with our fuel on board
LESSON PLAN

 Definition  Principles involved

 Aim  Thrust required and
available
 Why is it being taught
 Power requires and available
 Forces affecting the aircraft  Factors effecting
 Coupling effect
 Altitude
 Weight
 Weight
 Lift  Flaps
 Drag
 Range
 Thrust
 Endurance
 Summary
FLYING FOR ENDURANCE

 The object of flying for endurance is to remain in the air for

the longest time possible on a given amount of fuel

Why do we fly for Endurance

1. Search and Rescue
2. Surveying
3. Holding Procedures

• In order to fly for max endurance

• We will use minimum power
• We will fly as low as possible
SUMMARY
 Forces acting on the aircraft
 Coupling effect
 Weight
 Lift
 Drag
 Thrust
 Power
 Factors effecting
 Range
 Endurance