PILOT'S HANDBOOK
of
Aeronautical Knowledge
2003
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Flight Standards Service
Chapter 1-Aircraft Structure
Major Components ........................................1-1
Fuselage ....................................................1-2
Wings........................................................1-3
Empennage ...............................................1-4
Landing Gear ............................................1-4
The Powerplant.........................................1-5
Chapter 2-Principles of Flight
Structure of the Atmosphere..........................2-1
Atmospheric Pressure...............................2-2
Effects of Pressure on Density .................2-2
Effect of Temperature on Density ............2-2
Effect of Humidity on Density .................2-2
Newton's Laws of Motion and Force............2-2
Magnus Effect ...............................................2-3
Bernoulli's Principle of Pressure...................2-3
Airfoil Design................................................2-4
Low Pressure Above......................................2-5
High Pressure Below .....................................2-6
Pressure Distribution .....................................2-6
Chapter 3-Aerodynamics of Flight
Forces Acting on the Airplane.......................3-1
Thrust........................................................3-2
Drag ..........................................................3-3
Weight.......................................................3-5
Lift ............................................................3-6
Wingtip Vortices ............................................3-6
Ground Effect ................................................3-7
Axes of an Airplane.......................................3-8
Moments and Moment Arm ..........................3-9
Design Characteristics ...................................3-9
Basic Concepts of Stability ....................3-10
Static Stability ........................................3-10
Dynamic Stability ...................................3-11
Longitudinal Stability (Pitching) ............3-11
Lateral Stability (Rolling) ......................3-14
Vertical Stability (Yawing) .....................3-15
