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How does an aircraft fly?

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First of all – An aircraft needs one or more engines to move forward

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Secondly – An aircraft needs a set of wings so that it can raise

up in the sky

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The aircraft engineTwo types of aircraft engines:

Propeller engine Jet engine

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The aircraft propeller engine• Fuel is used so that the engine rotates

a propeller (Prop)• The Propeller gets air and pushes it

rearwards• Since the engine is fitted to the

aircraft body, by doing this the propeller causes the aircraft to move forward

• The forward force created by the engine is called ‘THRUST’

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The aircraft jet engine• Fuel is used so that the engine is

rotated.• Air is attracted inside the engine by

fans rotating inside the engine.• The air gets compressed when

passing through the engine• Compressed air is mixed with fuel and

burned• The burned air exits with high force

from the rear of the engine.• This pushes the engine forward,

producing the thrust to move the aircraft forward.

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The aircraft wings

• When the aircraft moves forward, air passes around the wings• Air passing over the wing has less pressure• Air passing under the wing has more pressure• The wing is pushed up creating ‘LIFT’

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The aircraft wings

• The wing profile causes the difference in pressure over and under the wing• Wing profile is called ‘AEROFOIL’

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Stabilizers are used so that the aircraft flies straight

Horizontal Stabilizer

Vertical Stabilizer

Horizontal Stabilizer

Vertical Stabilizer

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How does an aircraft climb, dive and turn?

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• Ailerons are used so that the aircraft ‘rolls’ left and right

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• Elevators are used so that the aircraft climbs up or dives down

• This movement is called ‘Pitching’

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• The Rudder is used so that the aircraft turns left or right

• This movement is called ‘Yawing’

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• Ailerons, Elevators and the Rudder are called ‘FLIGHT CONTROLS’

• They are moved by the pilot from the cockpit

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• The ‘Control Column’ moves the elevators

• Moving the column backwards causes the aircraft to ‘pitch up’

• Moving the column forward causes the aircraft to ‘pitch down’

• Turning the column ‘Steering Wheel’ moves the ailerons

• Turning the Steering Wheel causes the aircraft to ‘Roll’ Left or Right

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• Instead of a control column, in modern aircraft ailerons and elevators are computer controlled using a ‘Side-stick’ in the cockpit

Less modern aircraft use a

‘control column’ in the cockpit

More modern aircraft use a ‘side-stick’ in the cockpit

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• The rudder is moved using ‘Rudder pedals’

• The pilot moves the rudder pedals by using feet

• One pedal is pushed to cause ‘Yaw’ to one side.

• Other rudder pedal is pushed to cause ‘Yaw’ to the other side.

• When one pedal is pushed the other pedal moves out

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That is how an aircraft fliesAny questions?