Regional Gliding School Angle of Attack The angle at which the airfoil meets the relative wind is called the angle of attack

Regional Gliding School

Angle of Attack

• The angle at which the airfoil meets the relative wind is called the angle of attack


Center of Pressure (C of P)

• If we consider all the distributed pressures to be equivalent to a single force, this force will act through a straight line. The point where this line cuts the chord of an airfoil is called the Center of Pressure. As the angle of attack is increased, lift and drag increase and the Center of Pressure moves forward. This situation continues until the stall is reached. Beyond this point, it will move back. The movement of the Center of Pressure causes an airplane to be unstable.


The Boundary Layer

• The boundary layer is a very thin sheet of air lying over the surface of the wing and all other surfaces of the airplane. Because air has viscosity, this layer tends to stick to the wing. As the wing moves forward through the air the boundary layer at first flows smoothly over streamlined shape of the airfoil. Here the flow is called the Laminar Layer.


The Boundary Layer

• As the boundary layer approaches the center of the wing it begins to lose speed due to skin friction and it becomes thicker and turbulent (turbulent layer). The point at which the boundary layer changes from laminar to turbulent is called the Transition Point. Where the boundary layer becomes turbulent, drag due to skin friction is relatively high.


Airfoils Designs

• There are many different airfoil designs. The type of operation for which an airplane is intended has a direct influence on the design and shape of the wing for that airplane.

• Basically an airplane designed for slow speed uses a thick airfoil and a thin airfoil is best for high speed.


Types of Airfoils

– Conventional Airfoils:• are thick for better structure and lower weight for

better stall characteristics. The camber is maintained farther rearward which increases lifting capability over more of the airfoil and decreases drag. The thickest part of the airfoil is at 25% chord.


Types of Airfoils

– Laminar Flow Airfoils:• were originally developed for the purpose of making

an airplane fly faster. The laminar flow wing is usually thin. The leading edge is more pointed and its upper and lower surfaces are nearly symmetrical. The thickest part of a laminar wing occurs at 50% chord.


Confirmation Stage

NOTE: You must use the buttons in the Confirmation Stage


A

B

C

D

Transition point

A of A

A of W

Let's try a few review questions on Theory of Flight:

Question #1 - What name is given to the angle at which the airfoil meets the relative wind?

C of P

Theory of FlightTheory of FlightBoundary LayerBoundary Layer

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Flying Scholarship Program


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That answer is correct.

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Angle of Attack

• The angle at which the airfoil meets therelative wind is called the angle of attack


A

B

C

D

Airfoil

Transition point

Boundary layer


Question #2 - What is the thin sheet of air lying over the surface of the wing?

Turbulent layer



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The Boundary Layer

• The boundary layer is a very thin sheet of air lyingover the surface of the wing and all other surfacesof the airplane. Because air has viscosity, thislayer tends to stick to the wing. As the wingmoves forward through the air the boundary layerat first flows smoothly over streamlined shape ofthe airfoil. Here the flow is called the LaminarLayer.


Angle of Incidence

• The angle of incidence is the angle at which the wing is permanently inclined to the longitudinal axis of the airplane or the angle at which the wing is attached to the fuselage.


Wash-in/Wash-out

• Reduces the tendency of the wing to stall suddenly. The wing is slightly twisted so that the wing root has a greater angle of incidence. Therefore, the wing root will stall first. The ailerons will still be effective even though part of the wing is stalled. Wash-in is increasing the angle of incidence, hence, increasing lift while wash-out is decreasing the angle of incidence, hence, decreasing the lift.


Flaps

• Flaps are high lift devices that, in effect, increase the camber of the wing. Flaps will give you:

• Better Take-off Performance

• Steeper Approach Angles

• Lower Approach/Landing Speeds


Spoilers/Divebrakes

• Spoilers and divebrakes are devices fitted into the wing that increase drag and decrease lift. Spoilers are on top part of the wing and divebrakes are on bottom.


Wing Fences

• Wing Fences are fin like surfaces attached to the upper surface of the wing and are used to control the airflow. They provide better slow speed handling and stall characteristics


Slats and Slots

• Slats are auxiliary airfoils fitted to the leading edge of the wing. As angle of attack increases the slats pull out of the wing and go back in with a decrease in angle of attack. They help to improve the lateral control.


Slats and Slots

• Slots are passageways built into the leading edge of the wing a short distance from the leading edge of the wing. At high angles of attack air flows through the holes smoothing out the turbulence caused by eddies


Confirmation Stage

NOTE: You must use the buttons in the Confirmation Stage


A

B

C

D

Left bank

Right bank

Right yaw


Question #3 - What happens if the angle of incidence is increased on the left wing?

Left yaw



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Angle of Incidence

• The angle of incidence is the angle at whichthe wing is permanently inclined to thelongitudinal axis of the airplane or the angleat which the wing is attached to thefuselage.


A

B

C

D

Spoilers

Flaps

Both A and B


Question #4 - What are the devices fitted into the wing that increase drag?

Wing Fences



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Regional Glid ing School

Spoilers/Divebrakes

• Spoilers and divebrakes are devices fittedinto the wing that increase drag decreaselift. Spoilers are on top part of the wing anddivebrakes are on bottom.


Congratulations!!

You have now completed the Boundary Layer lesson of the Theory of Flight Module. Of course, this lesson is always available to you for future reference if required.

You are now ready to move along to the next Theory of Flight lesson you have not completed or to any other module you wish. You can advance to the Self Test Module if you feel ready to challenge the final exam.

Good Luck!


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Regional Gliding School Angle of Attack The angle at which the airfoil meets the relative wind is called the angle of attack