SPEED VECTOR [SV]:
A vector has magnitude and direction
SV describes movement of Aircraft in 3D space
Based on assumptions that:
* SV magnitude (Speed) is always positive or zero
* Aircraft direction aligned with SV direction
DIRECTION OF SPEED VECTOR [SV]:
SV changes direction along Planes:
* Pilot pitches SV up/dn along Pitch Plane
* Pilot yaws SV lft/rgt along Yaw Plane (not shown)
* Gravity rotates SV down along Vertical Plane
SV Direction defined by Pitch and Heading
* Pitch along Vertical Plane (+/- 90 deg)
* Heading along Horizontal Plane (0 - 360 deg)
Changes along Pitch Plane affect Pitch/Heading
FORCES AFFECTING SPEED VECTOR [SV]:
Primary Forces are Thrust, Drag, Lift and Gravity:
* Thrust - increasing Thrust increases Speed
* Drag - increasing Drag decreases Speed
- Parasitic Drag increases with Speed
- Induced Drag increases with Lift
* Lift changes SV direction +/- along Pitch Plane
- Lift also affects Drag
* Gravity affects both, depending on Pitch:
- Gravity X sin(Pitch) changes Speed -/+
- Gravity X cos(Pitch) deflects SV down
In a Level Turn, Lift and Gravity change Heading