Flight Training – Some Airplane Basics

By Author: Vikram Kuamr
Total Articles: 2912
Comment this article

If you are about to embark on a pilot training course, some basic information about the craft you are going to be learning to fly will stand you in good stead for making the most of your first lesson. Of course, you could begin from a point of absolutely no knowledge, but a little information about how the craft actually works is definitely a good idea. Some of the other people you will meet on the course will probably already know a lot about flying, and others may know nothing, or even have been misinformed or misunderstood. You’ll soon recognize the beginners from the experienced pilots when you begin your own flight training! So below are a couple of basics about flying and what it involves, that should help you make the most of your first day in flight school.

First, the four main forces acting on an airplane:

These are:

1. thrust -the forward force of the airplane, generated by the motor and propeller
2. drag - the rearward force of the airplane, caused by the air through which the plane is moving, and increased or decreased by the aerodynamic design of the craft
3. weight -the combined ...
... weight of the plane itself and everything it is carrying, including fuel. The latter, of course, has a reduced weight as it is burnt up during a flight
4. lift -caused by air moving around the lifting surfaces of the airplane, like the wings and elevators

The four forces act in opposite pairs with each other, so that thrust acts against drag, and lift against weight. These four forces are essentially what the trainee pilot learns to control in order to fly the plane efficiently, safely, and enjoyably.

Secondly, the plane’s center of gravity or CG for short, is crucial to effective flying. In a modern aircraft, in fact, in any well designed aircraft, the center of gravity is positioned so that the pilot can bring the nose up or down in most situations without having to fight gravity too much. If the center of gravity is too far back (or aft), for example, it will be difficult to bring the nose down for recovery after gaining height. If it is too far forward, on the other hand, it will be difficult to raise the nose at a low speed for landing. The center of gravity is affected by the way the plane is loaded, so it is important to understand how best to distribute passengers and any other cargo you may be carrying to optimize controllability during flight.

The above will certainly be among the first few pieces of information your instructor gives you when you arrive at flight training school, but there will be a lot of other information, too, and having knowledge and understanding of these will help you comprehend and better take in the remainder of what you will be taught in the early days of your pilot training course.

Author Bio.

For more information about what to expect during your Pilot training, the Flight Learnings website is a fabulous place to start. It describes one person’s Flight Training experience from day one to the day of qualifying as a private pilot.