Fly an airplane at a set attitude, airspeed, and power setting, and it does precisely what it is supposed to—every time. This book tells why and how “flying by the numbers” works, and gives the flight-tested numbers for precision performance in 27 of America's favorite small aircraft. For aircraft not included in this list, the book provides exact cockpit procedures for nailing down the numbers for any other light airplane.

The performance, stability, control and response of aircraft are key areas of aeronautical engineering. This book provides a comprehensive overview to the underlying theory and application of what are often perceived to be difficult topics. Initially it introduces the reader to the fundamental concepts underlying performance and stability, including lift characteristics and estimation of drag, before moving on to a more detailed analysis of performance in both level and climbing flight. Pitching motion is then described followed by a detailed discussion of all aspects of both lateral and longitudinal stability and response. It finishes with an examination of inertial cross-coupling and automatic control and stabilization. The student is helped to think in three dimensions throughout the book by the use of illustrative examples. The progression from one degree of freedom to six degrees of freedom is gradually introduced. The result is an approach dealing specifically with all aspects of performance, stability and control that fills a gap in the current literature. It will be essential reading for all those embarking on degree level courses in aeronautical engineering and will be of interest to all with an interest in stability and dynamics, including those in commercial flying schools who require an insight into the performance of their aircraft. - Ideal for undergraduate aeronautical engineers - Three-dimensional thinking introduced through worked examples and simple situations

This text describes the basic forces which dictate and decide the performance of an aircraft. It is aimed at pilots and flight-test engineers seeking answers to questions of flight mechanics. Referring to real-life situations, performance analysis is presented for most phases of flying, including takeoff, climb, cruise, turn, descent and landing. To improve confidence in dealing with these situations, a list of problems is provided at the end of each chapter to encourage trouble-shooting and theory comprehension. Charts, figures and references reinforce and complement the text throughout.

Airplane Flying Handbook Front Matter Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to Flight Training Chapter 2: Ground Operations Chapter 3: Basic Flight Maneuvers Chapter 4: Maintaining Aircraft Control: Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (PDF) Chapter 5: Takeoffs and Departure Climbs Chapter 6: Ground Reference Maneuvers Chapter 7: Airport Traffic Patterns Chapter 8: Approaches and Landings Chapter 9: Performance Maneuvers Chapter 10: Night Operations Chapter 11: Transition to Complex Airplanes Chapter 12: Transition to Multiengine Airplanes Chapter 13: Transition to Tailwheel Airplanes Chapter 14: Transition to Turbopropeller-Powered Airplanes Chapter 15: Transition to Jet-Powered Airplanes Chapter 16: Transition to Light Sport Airplanes (LSA) Chapter 17: Emergency Procedures Glossary Index