Basic Aerodynamics Made Easy
Understanding flight is critical for all pilots. Even after ground school, there are still misconceptions about the science of lift, and new pilots typically have only a rote understanding sufficient to pass the exams.
Recreational drone and Part 107 sUAS pilots may have even less appreciation for aerodynamics and lift. Educators who may want to introduce aviation into their classrooms may have none at all. And like computer coding, the general public only wants it to work, but not to understand it. This article will give resources that should be sufficient for anyone to understand how airplanes, including drones, fly through the air.
The first is a video produced by the FAA in the 1960’s titled “How Airplanes Fly”, which simply demonstrates a complicated concept. I often use this video with students before visiting Pearson Field Educational Center. A companion video, that is more technical, but a bit drier, is a WWII training film titled “Aerodynamics.” Both videos should be sufficient for most learners to fully understand the concepts of lift and flight.
The last video resource is a British documentary on “airscrews”, or propellers. Once one has a solid understanding of how lift is produced, understanding how the propeller works will be much less challenging. This is a must watch for commercial and CFI candidates, as well as drone operators.
The only print resource I feel that should be mentioned in this discussion is Wolfgang Langewiesche Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying. It wasn’t until I read this book at the end of my Private Pilot training that I finally “got” how an airplane works and how to truly fly. I feel that this book is a must for educators and drone operators since is so clearly lays out the practical application of the concepts of lift acting upon airfoils.
If these resources are new to you, enjoy these gems. If you have seen them, watch them again. As a Pilot in the Classroom, repetition is key to learning.