Why does an airplane fly?

meritflyer said:
Ask 10 different CFIs the reason an airplane flies and you'll get 10 different answers all containing bits and pieces of the real reason.
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Well, TG is being a lot kinder than I would have been, but he's right.

The sad truth is that most CFIs spew out the same garbage they were taught, without even looking into it more. As a consequence, I would say that 95% of the GA CFIs out there are teaching either flat out wrong info or marginal info at best, and that doesn't just apply to aerodynamics, sadly. Then there are a few, like TG, who manage to make up for the rest by being so far above them that they raise the entire bell curve to an acceptable level! Now, I know that is a complement to TG (which he deserves), but the thruth is that there is no excuse for the rest of the CFIs not to be a LOT better than they are. I put the fault at FAA, who should be setting the standards, but, unfortunately, the DEs and FAA inspectors in the GA realm are coming out of the same pool, so it's a case of the blind leading the blind. This COULD be fixed, and it would not be that hard. Sad.

Anyway, I think that you should come to MEM and take lessons from TG. That's my suggestion. I know of a couple others around the country that I could recommend also. Hey, all this and I am not even being paid to say it!
 
Gee, thanks but I dont really need to go out and take some lessons. I dont mind saying that I am a damn good stick and instructor. I just dont accept the "status quo" that the instructors out there lay out. I argue with CFIs almost every week about IFR crap, aerodynamics, regs, this, that, blah.. CFIs from large academies, universities, FBOs, ect. all spew out the same bull. IMO, instructors dont take the time to further themselves in the fields of study that relate to flying airplanes. They accept whatever crap was fed to them by DEs, FAA, or other instructors.

Maybe people are satisfied with the lay explanations that are given but I however, am not.
 
meritflyer said:
Gee, thanks but I dont really need to go out and take some lessons. I dont mind saying that I am a damn good stick and instructor. I just dont accept the "status quo" that the instructors out there lay out. I argue with CFIs almost every week about IFR crap, aerodynamics, regs, this, that, blah.. CFIs from large academies, universities, FBOs, ect. all spew out the same bull. IMO, instructors dont take the time to further themselves in the fields of study that relate to flying airplanes. They accept whatever crap was fed to them by DEs, FAA, or other instructors.

Maybe people are satisfied with the lay explanations that are given but I however, am not.
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Well, that is the path to excellence. Kudos to you! Somehow I had missed where you were in your evolution in aviation, sorry about that. I would highly recommend that you follow TGs advice on the reading, for a start.
 
seagull said:
Well, that is the path to excellence. Kudos to you! Somehow I had missed where you were in your evolution in aviation, sorry about that. I would highly recommend that you follow TGs advice on the reading, for a start.
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Thats why I honestly hang around JC - most of you guys are smarter than the status quo. Thats a great way to improve one's self.

Even on my CFI initial with the FSDO, I brought in some non-FAA aviation text. My examiner told me it was perfectly acceptable to use and reference unless it contradicted something in the PHAK, AFH, or IFH (or any other FAA sactioned book). I personally thought that was a load.

Once you hear from so many pretty sharp CFIs a reason for something, you begin to think it yourself, regardless of how you were taught. I see this happen all the time.

I have to wonder how many pilots out there flying cargo, 121, 135, 91 or other professional aviators, have no true clue about lift, drag, thrust, stability, blah, blah.. My guess is they are in sufficient supply.

Being in you evolution as any pilot, CFI, or pro pilot should never stop, IMO. I'll never know every aspect I want to know in the detail that would suffice.
 
Anyone have any links to summarize the whole lift & wing theory into a managable presentation that is simple, yet thurough?
 
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