Abstract Airplane and glider flight is enabled by aerodynamic lift, and essentially takes place in a straight line, punctuated by brief periods of maneuvering, which by definition, consists of curved flight paths. Except while making a horizontal turn, the flight of an airplane or a glider always takes place in the vertical plane, which is defined as the plane formed by any two radial lines emanating from the earth’s center. That is why all airplanes and gliders are designed to have a plane of symmetry. By keeping the gravity vector in the plane of symmetry, all the forces can be kept naturally balanced in order to produce an equilibrium flight condition in a vertical plane. As soon as the plane of symmetry does not contain the gravity vector, an asymmetry exists in the aerodynamic forces and gravity, causing the vehicle to depart from the vertical plane in a horizontal maneuver.
Flight of Airplanes and Gliders: Vertical Plane
Basic Flight Mechanics ; 43-72
2016-01-01
30 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
Flight of Airplanes and Gliders: Horizontal Plane
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