Aircraft Flight: A Description of the Physical Principles of Aircraft Flight

Enthusiasts who attempt to use introductory aerodynamics books to learn how aircraft function are often disappointed. These texts analyze general types of fluid phenomena at a basic level, without clearly describing their effects on aircraft. Besides being too academic for beginners, teaching introductory flight theory is not the objective of these. For an explanation of aerodynamics specific to aircraft which is readily understandable, Barnard and Philpott have written this thoroughly illustrated and clearly written title. The book's material is presented non-mathematically, and includes relevant fluid mechanics, selected aircraft components, the challenges faced by certain categories of aircraft, and design requirements of all aircraft. After each aerodynamic principle is described, the authors then explain its importance to aircraft behaviour and performance. The authors have attempted to avoid the same hackneyed explanations used in so many other books wherever these are unclear. A common failing which the authors do have however, is a reluctance to briefly interrupt a lesson in order to explain notions being used which were not explained earlier. In addition to teaching casual aircraft fans, this book can provide additional help for university students having trouble visualizing or verbalizing the phenomena described mathematically in their introductory flight theory courses. Aircraft Flight is excellent assistance, as the language gives as precise and thorough a description as can be achieved without formulae. Readers benefit from the British approach to writing, which does not entail concatenating trite expressions. Unfortunately, the book contains no chapter summaries nor study questions. While it may seem obvious, it should be mentationed that, despite its title, this is not a guide to better piloting. Barnard and Philpott were also involved with the book "Mechanics of Flight" also an introductory book, but with a more quantitative content.