Course detail

Principles of Flight I

FSI-OZ1 Acad. year: 2027/2028 Winter semester

The course provides a fundamental physical and engineering explanation of fixed-wing flight principles with emphasis on the knowledge required for theoretical training of professional pilots.

Topics include fundamental flow laws, generation of aerodynamic forces and moments, characteristics of airfoils, wings and complete aircraft, effects of viscosity, boundary layer and flow separation, induced and parasite drag, high-lift devices, stall and stall speeds.

The aerodynamic foundation is followed by an introduction to basic aircraft performance. Students study the conditions for level flight, climb, descent and glide, the significance of required and available thrust and power, and the effects of mass, density, speed and configuration on aircraft performance.

Emphasis is placed on physical understanding and practical application in pilot operations rather than on memorization of isolated equations and operational rules.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

4

Supervisor

doc. Ing. Ivo Jebáček, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Aerospace Engineering

Entry knowledge

Fundamentals of secondary-school and university mathematics, particularly functions, derivatives and basic integration. Fundamentals of mechanics, kinematics, dynamics and fluid mechanics. Basic understanding of aircraft configuration and fundamental flight conditions.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The course is completed by a graded course-unit credit.

Completion of assigned exercises and self-study tasks and successful completion of a final written test are required.

The final test assesses both the knowledge corresponding to professional pilot Principles of Flight theoretical training and the ability to apply fundamental aerodynamic and performance relationships to specific flight situations.

Assessment focuses particularly on the student's ability to:

  • correctly explain the physical nature of a phenomenon,

  • interpret graphs and aerodynamic characteristics,

  • perform basic calculations,

  • assess the effects of changes in mass, speed, configuration or operating conditions,

  • apply the acquired knowledge to situations relevant to safe aircraft operation.

Attendance at exercises is compulsory. In justified cases, missed classes may be compensated by an individually assigned task or consultation according to the instructor’s instructions.

Aims

The aim of the course is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental physical principles of fixed-wing flight and their practical significance for aircraft operation and flight safety.

The course combines the Principles of Flight knowledge required for professional pilot training with an engineering explanation of basic fluid-flow phenomena, aerodynamics and aircraft performance.

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • explain the fundamental flow laws used in aerodynamics,

  • describe the generation of aerodynamic forces and moments on an airfoil, wing and complete aircraft,

  • interpret aerodynamic coefficients and aerodynamic polars,

  • explain the effects of Reynolds number, boundary layer, viscosity and flow separation,

  • explain the origin of induced, parasite and total aircraft drag,

  • assess the influence of wing geometry, high-lift devices, aircraft configuration and ground effect,

  • explain the mechanism of stall and the factors affecting stall speed,

  • apply basic aerodynamic relationships to practical piloting situations,

  • explain the relationship between aerodynamic characteristics and basic aircraft performance,

  • determine the basic conditions for level flight, climb, descent and glide,

  • explain the significance of excess thrust and excess power,

  • explain the influence of mass, density, configuration and speed on aircraft performance,

  • describe the fundamental effects of compressibility, Mach number, critical Mach number and shock waves,

  • explain buffet onset and the significance of operational speed limitations,

  • apply the acquired knowledge to practical flight operations and flight safety.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B-PRP-P: Professional Pilot, Bachelor's, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, compulsory

Syllabus



  1. Fundamental physical principles of flight
    Forces acting on an aircraft, relative airflow, dynamic pressure, basic definitions and relationships.




  2. Continuity equation and Bernoulli equation
    Velocity and pressure in a flow field, physical meaning of the basic relations and their application in aerodynamics.




  3. Airfoil aerodynamics
    Lift, drag and pitching moment. Aerodynamic coefficients. Effect of angle of attack. Airfoil characteristics.




  4. Viscosity, boundary layer and flow separation
    Reynolds number, laminar and turbulent boundary layers, transition, flow separation and their practical significance.




  5. Finite-wing aerodynamics
    Wing vortex system, induced velocity, induced angle of attack, induced drag, influence of aspect ratio and wing planform.




  6. Complete-aircraft aerodynamics and the aircraft drag polar
    Parasite, interference and induced drag. Total aircraft drag. Aircraft drag polar and its physical interpretation.




  7. High-lift devices and ground effect
    Flaps, slots, slats, changes in lift and drag. Effect of configuration on stall speed. Ground effect.




  8. Stall and stall speed
    Stall mechanism, critical angle of attack, influence of mass, load factor, bank angle, configuration and contamination.




  9. Level flight and basic performance characteristics
    Force equilibrium, thrust required, power required and basic characteristic speeds.




  10. Climb and descent
    Excess thrust and excess power, climb angle, rate of climb, rate of descent and their dependence on operating conditions.




  11. Gliding flight and energy relationships
    Glide ratio, best glide ratio, minimum sink speed, influence of mass and wind.




  12. Turning flight and the effect of load factor on performance
    Steady turn, relationship between bank angle and load factor, increase in stall speed and performance consequences of turning flight.




  13. Influence of operating conditions and aircraft configuration on performance
    Mass, density, altitude, temperature, configuration and contamination, with emphasis on take-off, climb, cruise, approach and landing.



Exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Syllabus



  1. Continuity equation, Bernoulli equation and dynamic pressure.




  2. Calculation of aerodynamic forces and moments from aerodynamic coefficients.




  3. Interpretation of airfoil characteristics (C_L(\alpha)), (C_D(\alpha)) and (C_M(\alpha)).




  4. Reynolds number, boundary layer and flow separation – practical examples.




  5. Finite-wing aerodynamics and calculation of induced drag.




  6. Aircraft drag polar and decomposition of drag into parasite and induced components.




  7. Influence of high-lift devices and ground effect on aerodynamic characteristics.




  8. Calculation of stall speed and its variation with mass, bank angle and load factor.




  9. Level flight – thrust required, power required and characteristic speeds.




  10. Climb and descent – excess thrust and power, climb rate and climb angle.




  11. Gliding flight – glide ratio, best glide speed and minimum sink speed.




  12. Steady turn – load factor, stall speed and performance consequences.




  13. Integrated practical pilot problems: influence of mass, altitude, temperature and configuration on performance and safe flight operation.