Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics

Most pilots & flight students wince at the mention of the term "aerodynamics" because most courses & books dealing with the subject do so using complicated scientific theory & intricate mathematical formulas. And yet, an understanding of aerodynamics is essential to the people who operate & maintain airplanes. This unique introductory guide, which sold more than 20,000 copies in its first edition, proves that the principles of flight can be easy to understand, even fascinating, to pilots & technicians who want to know how & why an aircraft behaves as it does. Avoiding technical jargon & complex calculations, Hubert "Skip" Smith demonstrates how aerodynamic factors affect all aircraft in terms of lift, thrust, drag, in-air performance, stability, & control. Readers also get an inside look at how modern aircraft are designed-including all the steps in the design process, from concept to test flight & the reasoning behind them. This edition features expanded coverage of aircraft turning & accelerated climb performance, takeoff velocities, load & velocity-load-factors, area rules, & hypersonic flight, as well as the latest advances in laminar flow airfoils, wing & fuselage design, & high-performance lightplanes. Question & answer sections are added for classroom use.Smith, H. C. is the author of 'Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics', published 1991 under ISBN 9780071577489 and ISBN 0071577483.