Almost right. Graphically speaking, the summation of the force down(gravity) and the force up(keep the plane level) equals zero. So a plane flying level has zero force(lift vector) to make it go up.
Another way to think of a vector example is on a plane going straight up. Now there are two vectors. The Gravity vector pulling the plane down(Constant) and the summation of the trust from the prop and the planes E(In MA terms). As E falls with speed loss and thrust vector(constant) the plane slows. At the precise point the planes stops going up, the summation of all vectors is zero.
The vomit comet is another good example where the summation of all vectors is zero to produce a weightless environment.
I thought we were talking about "Lift Vector"?
let's go back to what has been posted:
I originally posted a link to the AH Training Corps article on
"Flight Controls"the following quoted post is how it went:
Lift Vector
http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/88-first-timers/learning-to-fly/1052-flight-controls
as described on the AH TRAINING website
basically, the same thing Dolby posted...
TC
Vector is not an aviation invention. Vector is a mathematical display of forces. A vector has both direction and length where the length is an indication of magnitude.
As an example, a plane is going straight and level has zero lift vector. That is. the plane has no force to make it go up. Pull back hard on the stick and the length of the lift vector goes up at the same time the force to make the plane go straight shrinks.
Remember hot wheel cars that went through a loop. The vector on the car as it goes through the loop goes down representing centrifugal force. Go too slow and the little car falls off the track at the top of the loop.
Randy1,
Regarding your example of a plane flying straight having zero lift, is incorrect, if it had zero lift, it would there for be flying at zero G, and would gradually go into a nose dive
Planes flying straight and level, are normally flying under a force (think Lift Vector here) of around 1 +G nearly constant...
Correct me if I'm wrong please
TC
Actually it's mostly because lift adds drag. The lift vector is not really perpendicular to flight path although it's convenient to think of it that way. It's tilted back a little which is why more lift equals more drag. So, gravity aside, when turn performance is reduced after increasing pitch it's because drag has reduced your speed since, as Dolby mentioned, lift is both speed and AOA.
In level flight isn't the lift vector 1g? So the magnitude is expressed in radial g and the direction is near perpendicular to the flight path?
What we usually mean when we discuss lift vector is plane of maneuver. Flight path and lift vector direction being the 2 lines that define the plane.
I posted, in my first post, "basically, the same thing Dolby posted..."
then I replied to your post
then FLS came in and backed me up on the flying level and straight, ( in Aces High, I should have added since this is what we are referring to I gather) , FLS posted "In level flight isn't the lift vector 1g?"
now you have dropped the "Lift" part of "Lift Vector" and are simply referring to "Vector" and have changed the direction from Horizontal straight and level flight , to Vertical up and down flight
I am not here to argue, but why are you changing your first response to something completely different?
here is another AH Training Corps webpage link for you:
Flight Dynamicshttp://trainers.hitechcreations.com/89-tactics/advanced-flight-concepts/1057-flight-dynamicsguess I should have included this one yesterday as well
I'll leave it at that...
hope this helps/ have a blessed day!
TC
