Unlocking the Mysteries of Flight: From the Top Down

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Traditionally, principles of flight are taught from the bottom-up. That is, we start by examining underlying causes (properties of air) and later move up to top consequences (aircraft performance). This traditional approach is analogous to that used by airplane designers and is most obvious in theory of flight textbooks for pilots. The problem with a bottom-up approach is that it introduces basic concepts as isolated “parts” without providing a “big picture” context. This can lead to poor understanding among student pilots. I suggest an opposite approach. Rather than starting with the underlying causes of flight, we can unravel basic principles by starting with top aerodynamic consequences. This top-down approach is analogous to that used by physiologists who start by taking energy measurements of animals (or humans) moving at different speeds. By first exposing students to the “whole” rather than the isolated “parts”, a top-down energy-centered approach can lead to a better understanding of how the airplane works.

Author

• Merkt, Juan Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Aeronautical Vehicles
• Aviation