Understanding Flight, Second Edition

by David W. Anderson, Scott Eberhardt

Overview

Discover how planes get--and stay--airborne

Now you can truly master an understanding of the phenomenon of flight. This practical guide is the most intuitive introduction to basic flight mechanics available. Understanding Flight, Second Edition, explains the principles of aeronautics in terms, descriptions, and illustrations that make sense--without complicated mathematics. Updated to include helicopter flight fundamentals and aircraft structures, this aviation classic is required reading for new pilots, students, engineers, and anyone fascinated with flight.

Understanding Flight, Second Edition, covers:

• Physics of flight
• Wing design and configuration
• Stability and control
• Propulsion
• High-speed flight
• Performance and safety
• Aerodynamic testing
• Helicopters and autogyros
• Aircraft structures and materials

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071626972
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	05/01/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	306
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

David Anderson is a lifelong pilot. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Columbia University.

Scott Eberhardt works in high-lift aerodynamics with Product Development, at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1. Principles of Flight
Chapter 2. Wings
Chapter 3. Stability and Control
Chapter 4. Airplane Propulsion
Chapter 5. High-Speed Flight
Chapter 6. Airplane Performance
Chapter 7. Aerodynamic Testing
Chapter 8. Helicopters and Autogyros
Chapter 9. Structures
Appendix A. Basic Concepts
Appendix B. Misapplications of Bernoulli's Principle
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Among student pilots, there are varying degrees of enthusiasm for the science of aerodynamics. Some prefer knowing the equations behind the principles, but many are content to learn just enough to keep the airline sunnyside up. Instructors find a quandary here: They don't want to bury an uninterested student in complexities, so they may gloss over important principles in order to keep things brief. In doing so, they risk introducing misconceptions. In fact, depending on their own training, they may not possess the depth of knowledge to explore these concepts with students who are intrigued by the math describing the motion.

Both parties can be satisfied with a new book, Understanding Flight, by David E. Anderson and Scott Eberhardt. Anderson, a scientist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and Eberhardt, an associate professor of aerodynamics and astronautics at the University of Washington, are both private pilots. After laying the groundwork by introducing a few simple concepts-the right ones-they go on to develop a different way of thinking about how airplanes fly. Later chapters delve into high-speed flight and aerodynamic testing. The math is basic enough for any high school graduate to understand and examples pepper the book..."

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