Why Study Theory at All?
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You can fly an airplane
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Your physical movements are memorized
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Pavarotti was a natural singer
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Pavarotti never learned to read music – he memorized everything
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Most singers and athletes get coaching
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Then they are doing something new – and they know what it feels like
OK, Let’s consider how an airplane turns . . .
What turns an Airplane?
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How do you keep the airplane from turning? (i.e. hold heading)
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In four words or less.
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What force does the pilot use to make the airplane turn?
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(Not what controls does she use.)
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What is a Vector?
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What is the Flight Path Vector?
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Where the airplane is going
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How fast
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What is a Vector in general? (i.e. In mathematics)
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expresses two things about an object
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direction
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quantity
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What about an arrow as a representation of a vector?
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An arrow is pointing in some direction (perhaps in 3D)
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its length can represent a quantity
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What can vectors represent for a pilot?
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Vectors can represent Movement
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Where the airplane is going through the air
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Where the airplane is going over the ground
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Wind
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Vectors can be added. And subtracted!
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Vectors can represent Forces
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Lift
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Gravity
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Thrust
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Drag
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Lift can be controlled by the pilot, in both direction and quantity. How?
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What control(s) steer lift?
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What control(s) determine how much lift is produced?
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What is Equilibrium?
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The four forces are balanced
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When is an aircraft in equilibrium? Answer yes, no, or maybe.
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Tied down?
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On the ground?
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Taxiing?
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Takeoff?
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Climb?
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Cruise?
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Turning?
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Descent?
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Slowing for Approach
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Approach (stabilized)
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Flare
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Landing
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When the Flight Path Vector is not changing
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Answer:
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6 yes
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5 no
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2 maybe
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Why does the pilot have to be aware?
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There is much more going on if the airplane is not in equilibrium
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The pilot has to stop the change when her plan is complete, for example:
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nearing the heading she is turning to
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arriving at the new airspeed she wants
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arriving at the new altitude or V/S she wants
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Why do we need to know about equilibrium?
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In equilibrium the Flight Path Vector is not changing
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If the pilot is happy with that, she has to do nothing
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If the airplane is not in equilibrium it is because the pilot commanded it so, in order to change the Flight Path Vector
The closed-loop pilot is always aware that the airplane is not in equilibrium
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Which of the Vectors in the following image are Forces? Virtual Forces? Not a Force? Just an Airplane?