Course Description

This course will provide the student with a study of the physical principles of airplane aerodynamics, thereby fostering an appreciation of the factors affecting aircraft performance, stability and control, and special flight conditions often experienced by commercial pilots of fixed-wing aircraft.

Rationale

This course will prepare the student to understand and apply aerodynamic concepts, such as incompressible flow airfoil theory and wing theory, to enhance the safe execution of more complex flight conditions and parameters. Topics discussed will center on the calculation of stall speed, drag, and basic performance criteria, configuration changes, high and low-speed conditions, special flight conditions, and an introduction to compressible flow.

Measurable Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Recall atmospheric effects on aircraft performance.
2. Recall aerodynamic principles and theories as they apply to aircraft.
3. Explain basic principles of aerodynamic performance.
4. Critique the aerodynamic properties of a specific aircraft.
5. Explain how aerodynamic principles complement a biblical worldview.

Course Assignment

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

The student will submit a 2–3 minute video presentation introducing themselves to their fellow classmates. Specific elements described in the assignment are to be included. This will be a graded assignment and you must reply to at least two other classmate introductions as well.

The student is required to create a thread in response to the provided promptly. Each thread must be 250–300 words in length and demonstrate course-related knowledge. The student is required to reply to 2 other classmates threads. Each reply must be 150–200 words in length. The textbook must be the primary resource. (MLO: E)

The student will write five 300-350-word essays, each in response to questions presented by the instructor. The student must use his/her textbook and assigned readings from each module as references; no other resources are required. Each essay will be submitted as an MS Word document and include citations and a reference page with current APA formatting. (MLO: A, B, C)

For the Research Paper: Final Submission Assignment, the student will submit a 1,000-1,500 word research paper on the unique aerodynamic characteristics of his/her favorite aircraft. The paper must adhere to the current APA format. The length requirement does not include the title page or reference page. A minimum of 3 sources will be submitted in the Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography Assignment. An outline of the paper is also to be submitted in the Research Paper: Outline Assignment.  Each assignment will be submitted in an MS Word document (MLO: D)

The student will take 4 quizzes in this course. Quizzes will be open-book/open-notes and contain calculated answers, multiple-choice, and true/false questions, covering information from the assigned textbook readings. Tests are timed. (MLO: A, B)