What is Flight: Definition and 363 Discussions

Flight or flying is the process by which an object moves through a space without contacting any planetary surface, either within an atmosphere (i.e. air flight or aviation) or through the vacuum of outer space (i.e. spaceflight). This can be achieved by generating aerodynamic lift associated with gliding or propulsive thrust, aerostatically using buoyancy, or by ballistic movement.
Many things can fly, from animal aviators such as birds, bats and insects, to natural gliders/parachuters such as patagial animals, anemochorous seeds and ballistospores, to human inventions like aircraft (airplanes, helicopters, airships, balloons, etc.) and rockets which may propel spacecraft and spaceplanes.
The engineering aspects of flight are the purview of aerospace engineering which is subdivided into aeronautics, the study of vehicles that travel through the atmosphere, and astronautics, the study of vehicles that travel through space, and ballistics, the study of the flight of projectiles.

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  1. R

    Can a spherical spinning projectile oscillate in flight?

    There is a very heated debate in a forum for airsoft that I frequent. It is about what happens to ba bb pellet when it is fired from a bb gun. Two point of contention have formed. 1. A unbalanced bb, who's geometric center is disparate from it's center of mass will wobble, or oscillate on the...
  2. W

    Solving a Homework Assignment: Airplane Flight in a Windy Day

    Homework Statement an airplane, whose air speed is 580km/h, is supposed to fly in a straight path 38N of E. But a steady 72km/h wind is blowing from the north. In what direction should the plane head? i know the answer is 43.6 N of E but i am not completely sure how to get it Homework...
  3. H

    Why can't an aircraft maneuver like a bird?

    In simple terms (if possible), why is an aircraft unable to achieve the manoeuvrability of a bird, eg, immediate stop, rapid acceleration, sudden change of direction? I'm guessing it relates to necessary strength and rigidity of the plane's structure, engine power/weight ratio.
  4. S

    Algebraic graphing object flight paths

    question: you have the opportunity to shoot down another groups rocket. the path for the other groups rocket can be modeled by h(t) = -3t^2 + 45t . what straight line path must your missile follow if it is to shoot down their rocket at 12.5 second mark? show your answer both graphically and...
  5. I

    Time of Flight using flight path and radius (Kepler's Equation)

    Homework Statement A lunar probe is given just escape speed at an altitude of .25 DU and flight path angle 30°. How long will it take the probe to get to the vicinity of the moon (r = 60 DU), disregarding the moon's gravity? Circular orbit, radius = 1.25 DU θ = 30° gravitational parameter =...
  6. C

    Flight of Bird, Cubic Function

    Homework Statement A bird dove under water and re-emerged with a fish. Following is the table which shows the bird's estimated flight: Time(s),Height(m) 0, 7 2, 10 4, 5 6, 0 7, 0 8, 3 Find a cubic equation to model the data. 2. The...
  7. O

    Helicopter Flight and Jet Pack Adventure

    A helicopter carrying Dr. Evil takes off with a constant upward acceleration of 6.0m/s^2 . Secret agent Austin Powers jumps on just as the helicopter lifts off the ground. After the two men struggle for 12.0s , Powers shuts off the engine and steps out of the helicopter. Assume that the...
  8. P

    Projectile motion: Finding flight distance with air resistance

    Homework Statement A ball of mass 0.9kg is shot from a slingshot at an angle of 60° from the ground. The slingshot is sitting 1m above the ground. The elasticity of the slingshot is k = 700N/m. Take gravity = 10m/s^2 Air resistance must be taken into account also. Use the formula D = (...
  9. P

    Projectile motion: Finding flight distance with air resistance

    Homework Statement A ball of mass 9N is shot from a slingshot at an angle of 60° from the ground. The slingshot is sitting 1m above the ground. The elasticity of the slingshot is k = 700N/m. Take gravity = 10m/s^2 Air resistance must be taken into account also. Use the formula D = (...
  10. T

    Physics of Flight - From where does lift come?

    Consider a simple prop plane like a Cessna. I'm a little confused about the origin of the energy for lift. We know the engine accounts for all the thrust and the wings have drag that varies by angle of attack, which also changes lift. But does the engine account for all the energy in lift? If...
  11. Alesak

    NASA NASA picks another Mars flight to explore its core

    http://phys.org/news/2012-08-nasa-mars-flight-explore-core.html Aww. Titan Mare Explorer looks way more exciting to me, even if we had results only when I'm 37 years old.
  12. J

    Ear pain while flight landing/takeoff

    Why do we get ear pain while flight landing or take off? The common answer I get is due to the pressure change. Are we saying we have not yet developed a technology to quickly adjust the pressure?
  13. azizlwl

    Exploring the Flight of a Mass on a Vertical Spring

    A vertical spring with constant 200N/m has a light platform on its top. When a 500-g mass is set on the platform, the spring compresses 0.0245m. The mass is now pushed down 0.0755m farther and released. How far above this latter position will the mass fly? The answer from the book. If it does...
  14. B

    Calculating Projectile Trajectories with Gravitational and Electrostatic Forces

    I am an undergraduate physics student and found myself thinking about a scenario where two positively charged projectiles are fired at an angle to the horizontal at a velocity with a certain separation. So they will be subject to a gravitational force and perpendicular to this, an electrostatic...
  15. W

    Generating Electricity from an Aeroplane Flight

    Throughout the journey of an aeroplane flight, the magnetic field of the Earth will induce and electro motive force in the wings. Is it possible to generate electricty from this EMF? Also I am wondering when to use sin or cos.. for the formula phi = BA
  16. K

    Minimum distance/energy bird flight problem.

    Minimum distance/energy bird flight problem. (SOLVED) SOLVED: Problem was just a simple arithmetic error (14 squared) Homework Statement A bird is released from point A on an island 5 mi from the nearest point B on a straight shoreline. The bird flies to a point C on the shoreline and...
  17. C

    Muzzle velocity given test range, time of flight and ballistic properties.

    This isn't really homework, but I figure this is the most appropriate place to post this... Please do say if you think there is a more likely place it will get answered - I'm new! Homework Statement I am trying to calculate the muzzle velocity of an air rifle. I can find the time of flight...
  18. M

    How will rain affect a discs flight?

    How will rain affect a discs flight?? We're having an argument on how much rain will reduce the distance of a thrown disc. We have a "professional" disc golfer here who says that it would decrease his distance by less than 1 percent. The rest of us aren't buying it. So, assuming that there...
  19. rhody

    Cool Video, human powered flight, first video

    I confess, I stole this from garrett's twitter page, enjoy... Quoting the pilot's caption at the end: "and suddenly you are free, a really intense feeling of freedom. The true feeling of flying, a magical moment. The best feeling I have ever felt in my life" Rhody... :biggrin: :devil:
  20. J

    Neutron Time of Flight Jacobian

    Dear Forum, I have been given a DT fusion spectrum where neutrons are produced in the following reactions, DT = 14.1 MeV DD = 2.45 MeV TT = 0-9.8 MeV (three body spectrum) The spectrum is given in the form dN/dE. I have converted this spectrum into the dE/dE by multipling the...
  21. K

    Projectile Motion - find initial velocity, flight time and max height

    Homework Statement a golf ball is shot from a height of 6.5 ft above the ground at an angle of 45° above the horizontal. The ball lands 39 ft and 3 inches downfield. Assuming ideal projectile motion find: a. Initial velocity b. flight time c. maximum height Homework Equations r =...
  22. G

    Wing bending measurements while in level turning flight

    Hello everyone. I wanted to know if, for low wing single engine nose-driven prop aircrafts, there has ever been a measurement done, while in flight, of the actual amount of wing bending occurring during sustained level turns at a measured G force, including full power sustained turns...
  23. M

    How long was the ball in flight?

    On the Apollo 14 mission to the moon, astronaut Alan Shepard hit a golf ball with a golf club improvised from a tool. The free-fall acceleration on the moon is of its value on earth. Suppose he hit the ball with a speed of 29 at an angle 26 above the horizontal. How long was the ball in...
  24. J

    Rocket's Flight: Analyzing Height and Velocity

    Homework Statement During the first 50 s of a rocket's flight, the rocket is propelled straight up, so that in t seconds its height s is s(t) = t^3/sqrt 10 ft. a) How high does the rocket travel in 50 s? b) What is the average velocity of the rocket during the first 50 s? c)What is the...
  25. C

    How to model flight of simple parachute in 2D?

    How would one model flight of simple parachute in 2D? For example a formula(s) that would effectively allow you to map the parachute's position/velocity/glideAngle over time. I'm imaging dropping the parachute (consider in 2D only to make easier) and then it will be affected by forces...
  26. T

    Relations between Angle of Launch, Range & Flight Time

    1. How do angle of launch, range, and flight time relate to one each other? 2.ΔX=vcosθ*t [b]3. According to the equation above,in my opinion as θ increases, range should decrease and time(t) should increase. Is there any other way of knowing the relation?
  27. M

    Help with Power Curves for Steady Level Flight

    Hello all, first time poster here so please go easy :) I have to create a set of Power curves (Power Required and Power Available vs. Velocity) for a propeller-driven Ryan Navion A aircraft at intervals of 1000m. My question to you is this, due to the fact that the aircraft is in steady...
  28. I

    Finding total flight time of a projectile. Please help

    Homework Statement A baseball thrown vertically with a speed of 3m/s. Find the total time that the ball has been in flight when it had traveled 50cm. Homework Equations vf=vi + at d= 1/2at^2 The Attempt at a Solution Found t. vf=vi +at vf=3 vi=0 a=~10 Found t= .3 secs...
  29. Andre

    Photography, the flight of the dragon fly

    The other day I posted this in the France thread: I sent the pic to an entomology institute, asking about this behavior and got a quick reply. It is asserted that dragon flies avoid desorientation with keeping the head horizontal during steep manoeuvres. Actually this tilt is from an...
  30. J

    Math formulas for sub-orbital flight

    I would like some "simple" (yeah, right!) math formulas that I can create an EXCEL spreadsheet to calculate flight profiles for a sub-orbital space plane with a 2,000 to 12,000 mile range. Please note, my math skills are 45 years old. If, as I suspect it will, calculus is involved, I would need...
  31. J

    Maximum height of baseball, given total flight time.

    Homework Statement The question i need to answer is: A baseball has a flight time of 7 seconds. What maximum height did it reach? (ignore air resistance.) Homework Equations I need to use equation 1 and equation 5 of the constant acceleration equations. The Attempt at a Solution I...
  32. S

    Calculating Time of Flight for a Launched Object

    Homework Statement A system is setup to launch an object horizontally off desks with an initial speed of 4.2 m/s. Height of desk is 1.3 meters. What time of flight should be predicted for the object?Homework Equations Δt = (v2 - v1) / ∂ (Not too sure)The Attempt at a Solution 1.3/4.2 = 0.31...
  33. N

    Books for Aerodynamics & Flight basics

    Hi, I am currently completing undergraduate studies in electronics & aiming to pursue MS Aerospace from US. Can anybody please tell about good books for Aerodynamics & Flight which cover the basics for someone without a fluid dynamics background ? Thank you.
  34. Evo

    Texas Woman Sues Over Turbulent Flight

    Why are these frivolous lawsuits allowed? They cost the taxpayers a fortune. She's suing the airlines for the weather? Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/12/texas-woman-sues-continental-over-turbulent-flight/?intcmp=obnetwork#ixzz1ahOrf3vU
  35. X

    Is Gogo Inflight Internet reliable and fast?

    I read something about the new Internet service in airplanes. Do you know something about the speed? Is the connection stable? I do not really know which airlines offer such a service so I tried to find information on this website but found nothing interesting. Do you have more information for me?
  36. K

    Estimation of angle of attack / sideslip from flight test data

    I'm working on doing some parameter identification for a small UAV model, but unfortunately due to the size of the aircraft, we are unable to measure alpha and beta directly. What we do have are X/Y/Z position and acceleration, velocity, roll/pitch/yaw angles, and roll/pitch/yaw rates. Is...
  37. H

    Converting Rotor Frequency to Helicopter Thrust: Finding the Missing Equation

    Homework Statement I am doing an EEI relating to how the ground effect influences an RC helicopter's thrust. Homework Equations Are there any equations for converting the frequency of a helicopter's rotor blades to the power used? or alternatively is there another way to calculate the...
  38. K

    Photon flight times and the uncertainty principle

    Ok I feel a bit silly asking about this, but I have gotten myself confused and need some help sorting something out. In QFT the operators of observable quantities commute over space-like intervals, so we cannot propagate effects faster than light, causality is safe, cool. But I have somewhat...
  39. A

    The effect of Earth's Roatation on Flight

    I was wondering what the effect of the Earth's rotation is on the time of long flights. most people I've talked to claim that the Earth's rotation has no effect at all and that the most important thing is the winds. However, let me ask this question: suppose we floating in the air...
  40. A

    First (?) human powered helicopter flight

    Small accomplishment but hopefully it'll lead to greater things, here's the video: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/video/tech-22186835/calif-students-build-musical-robots-then-jam-25217074.html
  41. K

    Calculating Heading, Bank & Attitude of Flight from Data

    So this is a pretty specific question, and one that has been puzzling me for a while. Either I'm missing something very basic...or. Anyway, here goes : There's a flight, that has a dish on it. The flight's dish has reported to me some data : Latititude, Longitude of the flight, Azimuth angle...
  42. F

    Supersonic Flight: How Does Speed Impact Lift?

    Does traveling faster than the speed of sound affect how lift is generated?
  43. B

    What's the Flight Distance of Identical Objects with Different Masses?

    I've been having a discussion with some friends at a local Airsoft club for some time now and we are unable to agree on the flight distance's of identical objects that have different masses. I'll try to explain... If a 6mm spherical object, weighing 0.2g, was fired on a horizontal path with a...
  44. K

    Exploring Transverse Rotors for High Speed Flight in Sikorsky X2 and S-69 Concepts

    I was thinking about the design of the Sikorsky X2 and S-69 concepts today, and I thought of an interesting idea. I am by no means an expert, but I guess you could say I know more about this subject than the average person. So anyway, if you know about the S-69 and the new Sikorsky X2...
  45. R

    Flight Mach number in terms of fuel flow rate and other parameters

    I've posted on here in relation to an aerospace analysis project I'm doing. I'm stuck on one part of the project where I need to develop the performance envelope of the turbojet engine. 3 of the 9 plots that are required are Thrust vs. Mach number. On each of those plots I'll about 7 different...
  46. ThomasMagnus

    Times of flight for projectiles

    Is the time it takes for a projectile to hit the ground the same for the x and y axis' ? For example, if you are given the range of a projectile or told that it will hit a fixed point, will it have the same time of travel for x and y? If you know that it hits a fixed Point or are given the...
  47. N

    Aeroplane flight: time, displacement, velocity question

    [b]1. Homework Statement An aeroplane makes a round trip between two airports A and B located on the same line of longitude. On a windless day the aeroplane travels with constant speed v and the round trip time is T0. On the following day the same journey is made but there is a wind blowing...
  48. T

    Precession of a football in flight

    I'm interested in the change of orientation of a football as it travels through the air Really quickly, I'm going to define a reference frame as such: x-axis: from one touchdown to the other, and in this case, also the line from quarterback to receiver. y: along the turf from sideline to...
  49. K

    Calculating Speed of Kite String Release for 120ft Kite Flight

    Homework Statement A girl is flying a kite, which is at a height of 120 feet. The wind is carrying the kite horizontally away from the girl at a speed of 10 feet per second. How fast must the kite string be let out when the string is 150 feet long ? I came from a non english speaking...
  50. R

    The no-show rate for passengers with reservations on a flight

    Was hoping someone could help me out with a question. It was on a online test and wasnt sure how to do it. The question was as follows: The no-show rate for passengers with reservations on a flight run by wizair is 16%. The next flight has 42 reservations. Find the probability of there...
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