ATPL(A) · subject 081

Principles of Flight — revision notes

The most physical subject in the syllabus. Everything follows from one equation, the lift equation, and one idea: the flow separates when too much is asked of it.

Written on the EASA Learning Objectives, checked against the primary texts, delivered as an A4 PDF and a screen edition, in English and in French.

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Principles of Flight

Part 1 · 081 01

Subsonic aerodynamics

Aerofoil, coefficients, drag, ground effect, the stall, high-lift devices and the boundary layer. The core of the subject.

Part 2 · 081 02

High speed

Mach number, shock waves, critical Mach, buffet, and the means of pushing back the effects of compressibility.

Part 3 · 081 04

Stability

Static and dynamic stability in all three axes, and the role of centre of gravity position in longitudinal stability.

Part 4 · 081 05

Control

The control surfaces, roll-yaw interaction, reduction of control forces, mass balance and trimming.

Part 5 · 081 06 to 08

Limitations and flight mechanics

Manoeuvring and gust envelopes, propellers, forces in flight and asymmetric thrust.

Appendices A → E

Formulae and traps

The formula sheet, the classic traps, the key terms, the corrections applied and the sources.

The parts, in syllabus order

Part 1	Subsonic aerodynamics	081 01 — Basics · Aerofoil · Coefficients · Drag · The stall · High lift · Boundary layer
Part 2	High speed aerodynamics	081 02 — Speeds · Shock waves · Critical Mach · Buffet · Means of influence
Part 3	Stability	081 04 — Static and dynamic stability · Longitudinal · Directional · Lateral
Part 4	Control	081 05 — Control surfaces · Roll-yaw interaction · Forces · Mass balance · Trimming
Part 5	Limitations and flight mechanics	081 06 · 07 · 08 — Operating limitations · Envelopes · Propellers · Forces in flight

Exam traps you will meet in this subject

What people get wrong

A sample from Appendix B. The full list is in the notes.

Believing stalling speed is a constant: it is the angle of attack that is.
Forgetting that stalling speed varies as the square root of mass and load factor, not proportionally.
Forgetting that a forward CG raises the stalling speed.
Believing the maximum lift-to-drag ratio changes with mass: it does not; only the speed at which it occurs changes.
Confusing VMD, minimum drag, with VMP, minimum power. VMP is the slower.
Forgetting the region of reverse command below VMD.

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