Slide 1

Ancient GreeceMyth of Daedalus & IcarusInventor Daedalus constructed some wings with feathers & waxUsed them to escape from a prison with son Icarus.Flew too close to the sun and melted the wax where they fell into the sea.

History of FlightLeonardo DaVinciDrew designs of flying machines in the 1400s

History of FlightMontgolfier BrothersIn 1783 France, they succeeded in flying a hot air balloon for more than 5 miles.

History of FlightThe Wright BrothersMany others experimented and built models to further the idea of flying, but the Wright Brothers were the ones to truly succeed in flying the first airplane.On Dec 17, 1903, Orville became the first person to fly an engine driven airplane.

History of FlightTodaySince the Wright Brothers historic flight, many advancements have been made in the field of aviationToday, aircraft plays a vital role in our:TransportationCommerceIndustryNational SecuritySupersonic Jet Passenger PlanesRadar Evading Air Force JetsSpace Shuttles that can orbit the earthHistory of Flight

FuselageThe main body of the airplaneCarries the pilot, crew, passengers & Cargo.The front is called the Cockpit that includes all controls needed to control the aircraft.

Airfoil shapeThe cross-section shape of the wing is called an airfoil.The common airfoil shape has a flat bottom on the wing whose shape changes the pressure of the air around the wing.The changes in pressure create the force of LIFT which is what keeps the airplane up.

Wing ShapeWings have various shapes depending on the purpose.Planes that fly near or faster than the speed of sound have a swept back V shape.Sometimes this is called the Delta shape.

Tail AssemblyThe rear tail assembly is designed to keep the airplane balanced in flight.Most consist of a vertical fin and rudder as well as a horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

Parts of the tail assemblyThe fin keeps the rear of the plane from swinging left or right.The rudder helps control the plane during a turnThe stabilizer prevents the tail from bobbing up and down.The elevator is used to point the nose of the plane up and down.

Engine TypesThe most commonly used engines are gasoline powered.Gasoline Powered are the heaviest and least powerful of the three types of engines.Gasoline Powered are used for small distances and for carrying smaller loads.Jet Powered airplanes are used for longer distances and higher speedsJet engines are the most economical for long distancesRocket engines are used for experimental planes and for takeoff assistance for heavy loads or short runways.Engine placement

The force that opposes drag and moves the airplane forward. Its created by the airplanes propeller, jet engine or gravity.

The surfaces on the tail of the aircraft act much like the feathers on an arrow does to keep the airplane pointed in the correct direction.

DihedralAnother factor that increases the stability of flight for an airplane is the dihedral angle of the main wing.

Straight DihedralTip DihedralPolyhedralUp or Down?

CGThe center of gravity (or CG) is an important aspect when designing an airplane.For best results, it is the place where the three controls (yaw, pitch and roll) intersect.If too far back, the plane will tend to stall.If too far forward, the plane will nosedive.If too far left or right, the plane will not fly straight.