Flight Theory and Aerodynamics: A Practical Guide for Operational Safety

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Brian A. Johnson (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) Philip R. Fittante (Guilford Technical Community College)

Flight Theory and Aerodynamics

A Practical Guide for Operational Safety

Brian A. Johnson (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Philip R. Fittante (Guilford Technical Community College)

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English

John Wiley & Sons Inc
18 October 2025

Fluid mechanics; Mechanics of fluids; Aviation skills & piloting; Astronautics

Comprehensive introduction to aerodynamics applied to different types of modern aircraft, now updated with the latest FAA guidance

Flight Theory and Aerodynamics provides an introduction to aerodynamics using practical application to modern aircraft with step-by-step calculations. This fifth edition streamlines content, notably the chapters on aircraft stability, and incorporates updated FAA guidance and figures from the 2023 Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge as well as other FAA handbooks.

A balanced application of introductory physics and meteorology in the first five chapters evolves into an introduction to propeller and jet aircraft propulsion and eventually moves into a broad discussion on the application of physics to aircraft takeoff and landing performance. After the introductory material has been presented, principles from earlier in the textbook and prior coursework are correlated and applied to slow flight, aircraft stability, and high-speed flight. A new chapter on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight theory is included.

The text features extensive instructor resources including detailed PowerPoint slides for each chapter, step-by-step guidance for end of chapter calculations, sample test bank questions for each chapter, and application sections within each chapter that allow the instructor to challenge the student with additional real-world scenarios based on chapter content.

Flight Theory and Aerodynamics includes information on:

Elements of the flight environment, covering forces, mass, scalar and vector quantities, linear and rotational motion, friction, and power Atmosphere, altitude, and airspeed measurement, covering properties of the atmosphere, Bernoulli’s equation, and pitot-static system advantages and disadvantages Jet aircraft performance, covering principles of propulsion, fuel flow, specific fuel consumption, and thrust-required curves Aircraft stability and control, covering oscillatory motion, weight and balance, and airplane reference axes Rotary-wing flight theory, airfoil selection, and helicopter control UAV flight theory, including UAV design considerations, the aerodynamics of UAV fuselage design, UAV powerplant design, and the future of UAV design and aerodynamics End of chapter questions focused on scenario-based learning as applied to the performance analysis of a Diamond DA50 and corresponding chapter material.

In addition to degree-oriented college programs, this latest edition of Flight Theory and Aerodynamics is also an essential resource for pilot training programs ranging from student pilots to flight instructors as well as practicing professionals flying a wide range of aircraft.

By: Brian A. Johnson (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Philip R. Fittante (Guilford Technical Community College)
Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 5th edition
Dimensions: Height: 239mm, Width: 196mm, Spine: 36mm
Weight: 1.157kg
ISBN: 9781394282296
ISBN 10: 139428229X
Pages: 608
Publication Date: 18 October 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

1 Introduction to the Flight Environment. 15 Introduction. 16 History of Aerodynamics. 16 Basic Quantities. 21 Forces. 22 Mass. 24 Scalar and Vector Quantities. 24 Scalar Addition. 24 Vector Addition. 25 Vector Resolution. 26 Moments. 27 Equilibrium Conditions. 28 Newton’s Laws of Motion. 29 Newton’s First Law.. 29 Newton’s Second Law.. 29 Newton’s Third Law.. 30 Energy and Work. 30 Power. 31 Friction. 32 Introduction to Linear Motion. 33 introduction to Rotational Motion. 35 CHAPTER 1 Symbols. 36 CHAPTER 1 EQUATIONS. 37 CHAPTER 1 KEY TERMS. 37 CHAPTER 1 PROBLEMS. 39 CHAPTER 1 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 42 2 Atmosphere, Altitude, and Airspeed Measurement. 44 PROPERTIES OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 44 Static Pressure. 45 Temperature. 46 Density. 48 Viscosity. 50 ICAO Standard Atmosphere. 50 Altitude Measurement. 51 Indicated Altitude. 51 Calibrated Altitude. 52 True Altitude. 52 Absolute Altitude. 52 Pressure Altitude. 53 Density Altitude. 54 Continuity Equation. 56 Bernoulli's Equation. 57 Airspeed Measurement. 60 Indicated Airspeed. 63 Calibrated Airspeed. 63 Equivalent Airspeed. 64 True Airspeed. 64 Mach. 66 Groundspeed. 67 CHAPTER 2 Symbols. 67 CHAPTER 2 EQUATIONS. 68 CHAPTER 2 KEY TERMS. 69 CHAPTER 2 PROBLEMS. 70 CHAPTER 2 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 74 3 Structures, Airfoils, and Aerodynamic Forces. 75 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES. 75 Primary Flight Controls. 76 Secondary Flight Controls. 83 AIRFOILS. 89 Airfoil Terminology. 90 Definitions. 90 Geometry Variables of Airfoils. 91 Classification of Airfoils. 93 DEVELOPMENT OF FORCES ON AIRFOILS. 96 Pressure Disturbances on Airfoils. 96 Velocity and Static Pressure Changes about an Airfoil 97 AERODYNAMIC FORCE. 98 Pressure Distribution on a Rotating Cylinder. 98 AERODYNAMIC PITCHING MOMENTS. 99 AERODYNAMIC CENTER. 102 ACCIDENT BRIEF: AIR MIDWEST FLIGHT 5481. 103 CHAPTER 3 SYMBOLS. 104 CHAPTER 3 KEY TERMS. 104 CHAPTER 3 PROBLEMS. 105 CHAPTER 3 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 109 4 Lift. 110 Introduction to Lift. 110 Angle of Attack. 111 Angle of Attack Indicator. 112 Accident Brief: Air France Flight 447. 114 Angle of Attack and Coefficient of Lift. 115 Boundary Layer Theory. 116 Coanda Effect. 119 Reynolds Number. 119 Adverse Pressure Gradient. 121 Airflow Separation. 122 Stall 124 Aerodynamic Force Equations. 126 Lift Equation. 126 Coefficient of Lift and the Lift Equation. 127 Velocity. 129 Lift Formula Summary. 131 Airfoil Lift Characteristics. 132 High Coefficient of Lift Devices. 133 Effect of Ice and Frost. 141 Lift During Flight Maneuvers. 142 Lift During Turns. 143 Lift During Climbs and Descents. 144 Lift and Balloons. 145 CHAPTER 4 Symbols. 147 CHAPTER 4 EQUATIONS. 148 CHAPTER 4 KEY TERMS. 148 CHAPTER 4 PROBLEMS. 149 CHAPTER 4 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 153 5 Drag. 155 Induced Drag. 155 Aspect Ratio. 158 Wingtip Vortices. 160 Infinite Wing. 161 Finite Wing. 162 Induced Drag Summary. 164 Ground Effect. 165 Airflow Alteration Around the Wing. 166 Pitching Moments. 167 Pitot–Static Influence. 168 Ground Effect Summary. 168 Parasite Drag. 170 Skin Friction Drag. 170 Laminar Flow Airfoils. 171 Form Drag. 174 Interference Drag. 175 Leakage Drag. 176 Parasite Drag Summary. 176 Drag Equation. 177 Induced and Parasite Drag Calculations. 178 Total Drag. 179 Lift-to-Drag Ratio. 181 (L/D)max Summary. 185 Drag Reduction. 186 Winglet Design. 186 Winglet Application. 189 CHAPTER 5 Symbols. 190 CHAPTER 5 EQUATIONS. 191 CHAPTER 5 KEY TERMS. 191 CHAPTER 5 PROBLEMS. 193 CHAPTER 5 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 197 6 Jet Aircraft Performance. 199 Thrust-Producing Aircraft. 200 Turbine Engine Operation. 201 Thrust-Required Curve. 203 Principles of Propulsion. 204 Thrust-Available Turbojet Aircraft. 206 Thrust Variation and rpm.. 206 Specific Fuel Consumption. 209 Fuel Flow.. 211 Thrust-Available/Thrust-Required Curves. 211 Items of Aircraft Performance. 212 Straight and Level Flight. 212 Climb Performance. 213 Angle of Climb. 214 Rate of Climb. 215 Endurance. 218 Specific Range. 219 Wind Effect on Specific Range. 220 Total Range. 220 Variations in the Thrust-Required Curve. 221 Weight Changes. 222 Configuration Changes. 226 Altitude Changes. 228 Cruise–Climb Flight. 230 Afterburners and Vectored Thrust. 231 Jet Performance Summary. 232 CHAPTER 6 Symbols. 233 CHAPTER 6 EQUATIONS. 234 CHAPTER 6 KEY TERMS. 235 CHAPTER 6 PROBLEMS. 235 CHAPTER 6 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 239 7 Propeller Aircraft Performance. 241 POWER AVAILABLE. 242 Basic Propeller Principles. 243 Fixed-Pitch Propeller. 245 Constant-Speed Propeller. 246 PRINCIPLES OF PROPULSION.. 248 POWER-REQUIRED CURVES. 251 Power Available Versus Velocity. 253 Variations with Power and Altitude. 255 ITEMS OF AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE. 258 Straight and Level Flight. 258 Climb Performance. 258 Angle of Climb. 259 Rate of Climb. 261 Endurance. 263 Specific Range. 265 Wind Effect on Specific Range. 265 VARIATIONS IN THE POWER-REQUIRED CURVE. 266 Weight Changes. 266 Configuration Change. 270 Altitude Changes. 272 Propeller Performance Summary. 276 CHAPTER 7 SYMBOLS. 277 CHAPTER 7 EQUATIONS. 278 CHAPTER 7 KEY TERMS. 278 CHAPTER 7 PROBLEMS. 279 Chapter 7 Bibliography. 286 8 Takeoff Performance. 287 Normal Takeoff. 290 Crosswind Takeoff. 291 Performance Takeoffs. 293 Water Takeoffs. 295 Performance Speeds – Normal Takeoff. 296 Improper Liftoff. 297 Premature Takeoff in Ground Effect. 297 Dangers of Over-rotation. 298 Rejected Takeoffs. 298 RTO V-Speeds and Definitions. 299 Declared Distances. 302 Single-Engine Airplane. 303 Multi-Engine Airplane. 304 Rejected Takeoff Aerodynamics. 306 Initial Climb. 310 Linear Motion. 313 Factors Affecting Takeoff Performance. 316 Weight Change. 316 Altitude. 318 Wind. 319 Runway Surface. 322 Runway Slope. 323 CHAPTER 8 Symbols. 324 CHAPTER 8 EQUATIONS. 324 CHAPTER 8 kEY TERMS. 325 CHAPTER 8 PROBLEMS. 326 Chapter 8 Bibliography. 331 9 Landing Performance. 333 PRELANDING PERFORMANCE. 335 Gliding Flight. 336 The Landing Approach. 338 Stabilized Approaches. 339 Approach Glide Paths. 340 NORMAL LANDING.. 345 Crosswind Landing. 345 Performance Landings. 347 IMPROPER LANDING PERFORMANCE. 349 Improper Round Out. 349 Bouncing and Ballooning. 350 Porpoising. 351 Rejected Landings (Go-arounds). 352 HAZARDS OF HYDROPLANING.. 353 Dynamic Hydroplaning. 353 Viscous Hydroplaning. 356 Reverted Rubber Hydroplaning. 356 LANDING DECELERATION, VELOCITY, AND DISTANCE. 356 Forces on the Aircraft During Landing. 356 Braking Techniques. 361 Thrust Reversers. 361 LANDING EQUATIONS. 363 General Equation. 363 Effect of Weight Change. 364 Effect of Altitude. 365 Effect of Wind. 366 LANDING ENVIRONMENT. 369 Accident Brief: Southwest Airlines (SWA) Flight 1248. 369 Runway Surface. 370 Runway Slope. 373 CHAPTER 9 SYMBOLS. 373 CHAPTER 9 EQUATIONS. 373 CHAPTER 9 KEY TERMS. 374 CHAPTER 9 PROBLEMS. 375 Chapter 9 Bibliography. 380 10 Slow-Speed Flight. 382 Region of Reversed Command. 383 Thrust producers. 384 Power producers. 387 Stalls. 388 Stall Patterns. 388 Stall Warning Devices. 391 Stall Recovery. 391 Power-Off Stall 393 Power-On Stall 394 Accelerated Stall 395 Cross-Control Stall 396 Uncoordinated Flight. 397 Spins. 399 Spin Warning. 399 Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Spin. 401 Impact of Weight and Balance During a Spin. 404 Hazards During Slow-Speed Flight – Low-Level Wind Shear. 405 Aircraft Performance in Low-Level Wind Shear. 407 During Takeoff and Departure. 407 During Approach to a Landing. 409 Vertical Shear Level 410 Crosswind Burst Response. 412 Heavy Rain. 412 Hazards During Slow-Speed Flight – Turbulence. 413 Turbulence Effects. 413 Wake Turbulence. 413 Mechanical Turbulence. 416 Convection and Mountain Wave Turbulence. 417 Chapter 10 EQUATIONS. 419 Chapter 10 Key Terms. 419 Chapter 10 Problems. 420 Chapter 10 Bibliography. 424 11 Maneuvering Performance. 426 General Turning Performance. 426 Forces in Turns. 429 Load Factor. 430 Load Factors on an Aircraft in a Coordinated Turn. 432 Effect of a Coordinated Banked Turn on Stall Speed. 433 The V–G Diagram (Flight Envelope). 436 Maneuver Speed and Limit Load Factor. 440 Load Factor and Flight Maneuvers. 443 Radius of Turn. 444 Rate of Turn. 448 Energy Management. 451 The Airplane as an Energy System.. 452 Energy System Control 453 Application of the Energy System.. 455 CHAPTER 11 Symbols. 458 CHAPTER 11 EQUATIONS. 458 CHAPTER 11 KEY TERMS. 459 CHAPTER 11 PROBLEMS. 460 Chapter 11 Bibliography. 464 12 Longitudinal Stability and Control 465 Definitions. 466 Equilibrium.. 466 Static Stability. 466 Dynamic Stability. 467 Oscillatory Motion. 468 Weight and Balance. 469 Weight and Balance Theory. 470 Mean Aerodynamic Chord. 472 Effect of Weight on Flight Performance. 473 Effect of Weight on Load Distribution. 474 Airplane Reference Axes. 476 Static Longitudinal Stability. 479 The Pitching Moment Equation. 479 Graphic Representation of Static Longitudinal Stability. 480 Contribution of Aircraft Components to Pitch Stability. 481 Static Margin and Neutral Point. 490 Stick-Fixed Versus Stick-Free Stability. 492 Accident Brief: B-1A Static Margin Test. 492 Dynamic Longitudinal Stability. 494 Pitching Tendencies in a Stall 496 Low-Tailed Aircraft. 496 T-Tail Aircraft. 497 Explanation of Nose-Up Pitch Following Stall in Swept-Wing Aircraft. 498 Longitudinal Control 500 CHAPTER 12 Symbols. 501 CHAPTER 12 EQUATIONS. 502 CHAPTER 12 KEY TERMS. 502 CHAPTER 12 PROBLEMS. 503 Chapter 12 Bibliography. 507 13 Directional and Lateral Stability. 509 Static Directional Stability. 509 The Yawing Moment Equation. 511 Graphic Representation of Static Directional Stability. 511 Contribution of Aircraft Components to Yaw Stability. 512 Directional Control 517 Slipstream Rotation. 517 Crosswind Takeoff and Landing. 518 Asymmetrical Loading/Thrust. 518 Intentional Slips. 522 Multi-Engine Flight Principles. 524 Introduction to Single-Engine Flight. 525 Flight Principles with One Engine Inoperative. 526 VMC Considerations. 528 Lateral Stability and Control 531 Static Lateral Stability. 531 The Rolling Moment Equation. 533 Graphic Representation of Static Lateral Stability. 533 Contributions of Aircraft Components to Roll Stability. 534 Lateral Control 539 Dynamic Directional and Lateral Coupled Effects. 539 Roll Due to Yawing. 539 Adverse Yaw.. 540 Types of Motion Resulting from Coupled Effects. 543 CHAPTER 13 Symbols. 546 CHAPTER 13 EQUATIONS. 547 CHAPTER 13 KEY TERMS. 547 CHAPTER 13 PROBLEMS. 548 Chapter 13 Bibliography. 551 14 High-Speed Flight. 552 THE SPEED OF SOUND.. 552 Coffin Corner (Q Corner). 555 HIGH-SUBSONIC FLIGHT. 556 Normal Shock Wave Formation on Wings. 556 DESIGN FEATURES FOR HIGH-SUBSONIC FLIGHT. 557 Thin Airfoil Sections. 558 High-Speed Subsonic Airfoils. 558 Sweepback. 559 Vortex Generators. 561 High-Speed Subsonic Control Surfaces. 561 Flight Control Augmentation Systems. 563 TRANSONIC FLIGHT. 565 Wave Drag and Force Divergence. 565 Mach Tuck. 567 High-Speed Mach Buffet. 569 Control Surface Buzz and Flutter. 569 SUPERSONIC FLIGHT. 570 Oblique Shock Waves. 571 Expansion Waves. 572 Aerodynamic Forces in Supersonic Flight. 574 Supersonic Airfoils. 574 Wing Planform.. 576 Area Rule Drag Reduction. 578 Control Effectiveness. 579 Supersonic Engine Inlets. 581 Aerodynamic Heating. 584 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Computer-Aided Design. 586 Low Boom Flight Development. 588 chapter 14 SYMBOLS. 591 chapter 14 EQUATIONS. 591 chapter 14 KEY TERMS. 591 chapter 14 pROBLEMS. 592 Chapter 14 Bibliography. 595 15 Rotary-Wing Flight Theory. 597 MOMENTUM THEORY OF LIFT. 599 AIRFOIL SELECTION.. 599 FORCES ON ROTOR SYSTEM... 600 THRUST DEVELOPMENT. 603 HOVERING FLIGHT. 603 Hovering Blade Velocity. 605 Blade Twist. 605 GROUND EFFECT. 605 Torque. 606 ROTOR SYSTEMS. 608 Rigid Rotor. 608 Semirigid Rotor (Seesaw or Teetering Hinge). 609 Fully Articulated Rotor. 609 DISSYMMETRY OF LIFT IN FORWARD FLIGHT. 610 Blade Flapping. 611 Blade Lead and Lag. 612 HIGH FORWARD SPEED PROBLEMS. 613 Advancing Blade Compressibility. 613 Retreating Blade Stall 614 Gyroscopic Precession. 615 HELICOPTER CONTROL. 615 Rotor Head Control 616 Control of the Path. 617 HELICOPTER POWER-REQUIRED CURVES. 617 Translational Lift. 618 POWER SETTLING, SETTLING WITH POWER, AND VORTEX RING STATE. 619 AUTOROTATION.. 622 DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. 624 CHAPTER 15 PROBLEMS. 625 CHAPTER 15 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 627 16 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Theory. 628 UAV Categorization. 630 UAV Design. 630 Aerodynamics of UAV Fuselage Design. 632 UAV Powerplant Design. 634 The Future of UAV Design and Aerodynamics. 640 CHAPTER 16 KEY TERMS. 644 CHAPTER 16 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 644

Brian A. Johnson is a former regional airline pilot, corporate pilot, and part 141 chief ground instructor. He holds an ATP with an MEL rating, commercial pilot SEL/SES and sUAS, and currently serves as an active gold seal CFII/MEI, full-time company pilot, and a regional FAASTeam representative. Philip R. Fittante is a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with flight time in over 40 types of aircraft. He served as the Chief Developmental Test Pilot for the B-1B and B-2 bombers, possessing nearly 30 years of experience as an Air Force test pilot and Navy civilian test pilot and engineer.