CPL Aerodynamics study plan

Derive and explain the four forces in steady level flight, including how each changes with airspeed

Define lift coefficient, angle of attack, and dynamic pressure, and compute lift for a given wing area and speed

Sketch lift, drag, and power-required curves against airspeed and label the minimum-drag and minimum-power points

Compute induced drag and parasite drag at three airspeeds and identify the speed where total drag is lowest

Explain Bernoulli's principle and Newton's third law as complementary explanations of lift, and state the limits of each

Describe how camber, thickness, and aspect ratio change the lift curve slope and stall angle

Distinguish centre of pressure movement from aerodynamic centre and explain why the latter is used in analysis

Calculate the effect of density altitude on lift at fixed indicated airspeed

Convert between indicated, calibrated, true, and equivalent airspeed using density ratio

Compute density altitude from pressure altitude and temperature and state its effect on takeoff and climb

Derive the relationship between power required, power available, and rate of climb

Solve five climb-gradient and rate-of-climb problems with correct unit conversions

Explain how weight, altitude, temperature, and wind each shift the takeoff and landing distance

Describe the forces and moments in a steady climb, glide, and turn, and identify the load factor in a level turn

Define static and dynamic stability and classify an aircraft as stable, neutral, or unstable in each axis

Compute load factor and stall speed increase for 30, 45, and 60 degrees of bank

Explain the contribution of the horizontal tail, wing sweep, and fuselage to longitudinal static stability

Describe how the centre of gravity position affects stick force, trim, and static margin

Distinguish dihedral effect, keel effect, and rudder authority in lateral-directional stability

Explain adverse yaw, aileron drag, and the role of differential and rudder-coupled ailerons

Explain the mechanism of flutter and divergence and the role of mass balance and stiffness

Distinguish static and dynamic imbalance and describe the control consequences of each

Describe the stall sequence from angle-of-attack increase through boundary-layer separation and buffet

Identify stall warning devices, wing-root stall design, and the effect of ice, frost, and contamination

Explain the four phases of a spin and the control inputs required for recovery

Distinguish incipient, developed, and flat spins and state why flat spins resist recovery

Describe shock-wave formation, critical Mach number, and mach buffet

Explain sweepback, area rule, and supercritical aerofoils as compressibility fixes

List the factors that reduce stall margin and explain why load factor and bank angle raise stall speed

Complete two full-length timed practice papers under exam conditions

Re-teach the five weakest topics from memory without notes

Build a one-page error log categorising every missed question by domain

Verify recall of all key formulas and definitions against the week 1 formula sheet