The aircraft, step by step.
Each concept below builds on the last. Start with how objects move in 3D space and follow the sequence through to the surfaces that control the aircraft.
Concepts — in order
Motion in 3D Space
Degrees of freedom, translation, and rotation — the foundational vocabulary for anything that moves in space.
Axes
The three axes of an aircraft: roll, pitch, and yaw. Where each axis sits, what rotating about it looks like, and what controls it.
Flight States
Level flight, climb, descent, turn, and stall — the five states an aircraft can be in and what defines each one.
Forces
Lift, drag, thrust, and weight — the four forces acting on every aircraft in flight and how they balance.
Aircraft Types
Fixed-wing versus rotary-wing — how each generates lift and the fundamental tradeoffs between them.
Control Surfaces
Ailerons, elevator, rudder, and flaps — the hinged surfaces that let a pilot command roll, pitch, and yaw.