Amisha Bagi

THE FUNDAMENTAL FORCES OF FLIGHT:

Lift: The upward force that counteracts gravity, generated by the wings as air flows over them. It is primarily influenced by wing's shape, angle of attack and airspeed.

Weight: Gravity is the fundamental force that pulls the aircraft toward the Earth. To lift off the ground, an aircraft must generate enough lift to overcome its weight. Because of this airplanes need engines that produce significant thrust, and wings that are capable of creating enough lift to support their mass. The balance between lift and weight is crucial for maintaining altitude.

Thrust: Thrust is the forward force that propels an aircraft through the air. It is produced by engines, which can be jet engines or propellers, depending on the type of aircraft. Jet engines work by expelling gas at high speed, pushing the aircraft forward in the opposite direction. Propeller-driven aircraft achieve the same by spinning the blades of the propeller, which pushes air backwards, creating forward thrust. It is necessary to overcome drag (a resistance force) and keep the aircraft moving fast enough for lift to be generated by the wings.

Drag: It is the resistive force that opposes an aircraft motion through the air. It is a combination of two factors, Parasite drag(which comes from the aircraft’s body, wings) and Induced drag (caused by the generation of lift). Drag opposes thrust, and it increases with the speed of the aircraft. Pilots must adjust the throttle and manage the aircraft’s speed to maintain a balance between drag and thrust.

PRIMARY CONTROL SYSTEMS: An aircraft is equipped with several control systems that allow the pilot to manage its movement in three-dimensional space—pitch, roll, and yaw. Each control surface and system plays a vital role in ensuring that the aircraft performs as expected during various phases of flight.

1.Ailerons: Ailerons control the aircraft's roll(rotation around the longitudinal axis).Typically located at the trailing edge of each wing. When the pilot moves the control yoke (or joystick) left or right, one aileron moves upward and the other moves downward. The aileron that moves upward reduces the lift on that wing, while the downward-moving aileron increases the lift on the opposite wing. This difference in lift causes the aircraft to roll to the left or right. Ailerons allow the pilot to bank the aircraft, which is essential for turning.

2.Elevators: Elevators Located on the horizontal stabilizer at the tail of the aircraft. It controls the pitch of the aircraft. When the pilot pushes or pulls on the control yoke or stick, the elevators move up or down. If the elevators are moved upward, the tail of the aircraft is pushed down, causing the nose to rise. Conversely, moving the elevators downward causes the tail to rise and the nose to lower. The main purpose of Elevators allow the pilot to control the aircraft's climb, descent, and maintain level flight by adjusting its pitch.

3.Rudder: Rudder is located on the vertical stabilizer and controls the yaw, which is the rotation of aircraft around its vertical axis. It is helpful while to move aircraft forward left or right, especially during turns.

4.Flaps: Flaps are located on the trailing edge of the wings. Flaps extend downward from the wing, changing the shape and surface area of the wing. This increases the camber (curvature) of the wing, which generates more lift at lower speeds. The extended flaps also increase drag, helping slow down the aircraft during descent and landing. Flaps are primarily used to enable the aircraft to fly at slower speeds without stalling, especially during takeoff (to provide extra lift at lower speeds) and landing (to reduce speed and allow for a steeper descent).

5.Slats: Slats are used to improve airflow over the wing and delay stalling at low speed. They are typically mounted on the leading edge of the wing. Slats extend forward and downward movement from the leading edge of the wing. This enables the aircraft to fly safely at lower speeds, especially during takeoff and landing. Slats are used in conjunction with flaps to enhance the aircraft’s ability to fly at low speeds without stalling, improving lift and overall aerodynamic performance.

6.Spoilers: Spoilers located on the top surface of the wings. These are panels that can be raised to disrupt the smooth flow of air over the wing, causing a reduction in lift and an increase in drag. When deployed, spoilers can assist in slowing the aircraft down during landing or help control the aircraft’s descent rate. The primary use of spoilers is to assist with deceleration after landing and to help control the aircraft's descent by reducing lift. They are also used in some aircraft for roll control, particularly in large airliners.

Here are the phases of flight:

1.Takeoff: The aircraft accelerates down the runway. As the speed increases, lift begins to overcome weight, and the aircraft leaves the ground.

2.Climb: After takeoff, the aircraft climbs to its cruising altitude. The thrust continues to overcome drag, and the aircraft is adjusted to maintain a proper balance of lift and weight.

3.Cruising: At cruising altitude, the aircraft reaches a steady flight path. The forces of lift and weight are balanced, and the engines provide just enough thrust to counteract drag.

4.Landing: When it is time to land, the aircraft reduces thrust and lift gradually decreases as the aircraft descends. Flaps may be deployed to increase drag and slow down the aircraft as it approaches the runway.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates a wide range of aircraft to perform various roles, from combat and surveillance to transport and training. Here are the detailed look at the different types of aircraft used by the Indian Air Force:

1.Fighter Aircraft: Fighter aircraft are used primarily for air combat missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and multirole operations

• HAL Tejas: An indigenously developed lightweight, multirole supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It is used for combat, air defense, and close air support missions.
  • MiG-21: The iconic supersonic jet fighter, which has been in service for decades, is now gradually being replaced by newer models like the Tejas.

2.Bombers: Bombers are designed to carry out strategic bombing missions, targeting enemy infrastructure and military installations.

• Boeing 737 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control): While not a bomber in the traditional sense, this aircraft plays a crucial role in providing real-time surveillance, and command functions during operations.
• Il-76MD: The IAF's variant of the Russian Ilyushin 76, which can also be used for heavy airlift, but it has bombing capabilities as well, particularly in case of tactical warfare.

3.Transport aircraft: Transport aircraft are vital for moving troops, equipment, and supplies to remote or frontline areas.

• Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules: A tactical transport aircraft used for moving troops and cargo, even in austere or high-altitude areas. It can also perform special operations missions, including aerial refueling and surveillance.
• Boeing 737: A strategic transport aircraft that can carry larger cargo and personnel for longer distances.

4.Helicopters: Helicopters are used for various roles such as search and rescue, combat and transport.

• HAL Dhruv (Advanced Light Helicopter): A domestically developed utility helicopter used for a variety of roles including reconnaissance, transport, search and rescue, and maritime operations.
• Mi-35 : An attack helicopter used for combat and close air support. It is equipped with a variety of weapons for attacking ground targets.
• HAL Cheetah and Chetak: Light helicopters used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and transport missions.

5.Trainer Aircraft: Trainer aircraft are used to train pilots for various roles and to help them develop the necessary skills before flying more advanced aircraft.

• HAL HJT-16 Kiran: A jet-powered trainer aircraft used for intermediate and advanced training of pilots.
• HTT-40: An indigenous basic trainer developed by HAL to replace older training aircraft like the HPT-32.

6.Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs):

• UAVs also known as drones, are increasingly used by the IAF for reconnaissance surveillance, and precision strike missions.

• Searcher UAV: A smaller UAV used for tactical reconnaissance and surveillance.