Angle of Attack Perhaps
The angle of attack is the angle at which the wing meets the air. It remains, as stated in this blog, for heavier than air flight the wing keeps the airplane up by pushing the air down.
This is like a Technical Writing course I took at The University of Michigan years ago. The professor asked us to describe the game of baseball to an Englishman.
We all wrote extensive, complicated things like bases, balls, outs, etc. After a hour of this he asked one student how he would explain baseball to an Englishman. His answer was cut off quickly like all of our answers were.
"Baseball, in its essence, is one man throwing a ball at another man who tries to hit it with a piece of wood, everything else is appendiced, " said the Professor.
Technical writing is the art of leaving the reader no other choice for the reader.
The definition of Angle of Attack stands alone. Hence Newtons Law of Action and Reaction. In exerting a downward force upon the air the wing receives an upward counter-force equal and opposite to that force.
The angle by which the inclined plane (wings) meets the air is the all important Angle of Attack.
I will pick up on how the angle of attack is essential to every pilot in later blogs.
With you always in safe flight,
Jim
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
The definition of Angle of Attack stands alone. Hence Newtons Law of Action and Reaction. In exerting a downward force upon the air the wing receives an upward counter-force equal and opposite to that force.
Use a Physics Handbook to figure out that all the air molecules in a cubic yard of air weigh two pounds at sea level. As the wings plane across the surface of the air they move mighty big amounts of air down and receive mighty big reactions of force back.
(According to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, the density of dry air at 20 degrees C at 760 mm of mercury (one atmosphere of pressure) is 1.204 milligrams per cubic centimeter.
1 cubic foot = 28,316.8467 cubic centimeters.
So, dry air weighs 34,093.48 mg per cu.ft.
Which is about 1.2 ounces per cu.ft. A cubic yard of air contains (3x3x3 or 27 cubic feet. 27 x 1.2 ounces per cubic foot or 32.4 ounces of air in one cubic yard of air. 16 ounces in one pound means a cubic yard of air weighs approximately 2 pounds.)
So, dry air weighs 34,093.48 mg per cu.ft.
Which is about 1.2 ounces per cu.ft. A cubic yard of air contains (3x3x3 or 27 cubic feet. 27 x 1.2 ounces per cubic foot or 32.4 ounces of air in one cubic yard of air. 16 ounces in one pound means a cubic yard of air weighs approximately 2 pounds.)
Why do you think an airplane is called an airplane? It's wings are nothing more than a air deflector. This is the essence to flying and piloting a plane.
The angle by which the inclined plane (wings) meets the air is the all important Angle of Attack.
I will pick up on how the angle of attack is essential to every pilot in later blogs.
With you always in safe flight,
Jim
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
