ANGLE-of-ATTACK

Proprietary Software Systems, Inc.

www.angle-of-attack.com
(952) 474-4154
950 Iris Circle
Excelsior MN 55331

copyrighted 1999

Importance of AOA
Fly by the numbers!
Vs, Vx, Vy, VREF, Best Engine out Glide
and Max Endurance
Most of your Aircrafts critical performance
numbers are a function of AOA
When you fly airspeed the airspeed actually
was derived from AOA
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What is AOA
Angle between the relative wind and the
chord of the airfoil
The Wright brothers flew AOA and their
early aircraft were equipped with a
reference stick and a piece of yarn

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Looping Maneuver
AOA=8
Attitude=0

AOA=8
Attitude=+90

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AOA=8
Attitude = -90

AOA is referenced to:

Zero Lift
Line

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Most Elegant reference for AOA

Orient the reference for AOA so that zero
degrees AOA is where the wing creates no lift.
L=1/2 CLSwV2
When the coefficient of lift is zero the wing
creates no lift and induced drag is zero.
The proper term for this reference is angle
from zero lift.
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Setting AOA

Leave everything alone to fly a fixed AOA

Trim wheel controls AOA
Trim for AOA
Perceiving AOA is difficult

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Gauging AOA
Three components to AOA
1. Pitch attitude (angle of fuselage relative
to
the horizontal)
2. Angle of climb (angle of the flight path
relative to the horizontal)
3. Angle of incidence (angle of wing
relative
to the fuselage)
AOA =Pitch attitude + incidence - angle of climb
Pitch attitude does not equal AOA
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AOA=pitch attitude + angle of incidence

- flight path angle
Incidence

AOA

Attitude
Flight Path

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Flying AOA from High Density

Altitude Airports
Target
Airspeed

Pitch
Attitude

Angle of
Incidence

Climb
Ratio

Angle of
Climb

Angle of
Attack

Flat land

76 KCAS

11.0

4.5

900 fpm
@
76 KTAS

6.6

8.9

Leadville
(wrong)

76 KCAS

11.0

4.5

475 fpm
@
90 KTAS

3.0

12.5

Leadville
(right)

76 KCAS

7.4

4.5

475 fpm
@
90 KTAS

3.0

8.9

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Flying at different Gross Weights

Stall speed varies with gross weight by the
following formula:
Vs2 = Vs1 W2/W1
If the stall speed at 2,000 # GW was 60 KCAS
then the stall speed at 3,000# is 73 KCAS
The stalling AOA (critical AOA) remains the
same at all weights
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Flying at different angles of bank

Stall speed varies with bank angle by the
following formula:
Vs1 = Vs2 1/cos
If the stall speed at zero degrees bank angle
was 60 KCAS the stalling speed at 60 degrees
bank is 85 KCAS
The stalling AOA (critical AOA) is not
affected by bank angle.
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Flying in turbulence
Stall speed varies with turbulence by the
following formula:
Vs1 = Vs2 G
If the stall speed at 1 G was 60 KCAS the
stalling speed in a 2 G bump is 85 KCAS
The stalling AOA (critical AOA) is not
affected by turbulence.
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Cumulative Effect
Stall speed increases due to weight, bank
angle and turbulence are cumulative.
If we were to encounter the heavier 3,000#
weight, 60 degrees of bank, and the 2 G
bump all at the same time, the stalling speed
of 60 has now increased to 146 knots.
The critical AOA is not affected.
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Flying Approaches to Landings

An aircraft in the landing configuration will
stall at the same AOA regardless of airspeed,
fuel weight, payload, G loading, bank
angle, and turbulence.
If the critical AOA is constant during these
different conditions then the optimum AOA
for an approach is also constant.
All approaches are flown at a fixed AOA.
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Flying the best engine out glide

or maximum endurance
Lift=V2CLA/2 and Drag= V2CDA/2
Lift/Drag=CL/CD
The L/D ratio is not a function of airspeed or
weight. A lightly loaded aircraft will have the
same L/D as when heavier except that it will have
a slower descent rate and a slower forward speed.
Ignoring propeller effects, the best L/D occurs at a
fixed AOA.
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Understanding Lift to Drag

L/D max is used in flight for:
maximum endurance for jet powered airplanes
maximum range for prop driven aircraft
maximum climb angle for jet powered aircraft
maximum power-off glide range for jet and prop aircraft

L/D max occurs at one specific AOA

Normal
Command
rag

Pa r
asit
e

Ind uc e
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drag

To
tal
D

DRAG

stall

L/D max

Reverse
Command

12

d drag

Units AOA

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Angle-of-Attack vs. Coefficient of Lift

R
Be eve
hi rse
nd C
th om
eP m
ow an
er d
Cu
rv
e

Coefficient of Lift

Critical AOA (stall)

Angle Warning AOA (stall warning)

Optimum Approach AOA

L/D max, best glide, max endurance, best range

Cruise
Zero Lift (induced drag=0)

Angle from zero lift (AOA)

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AOA fidelity and accuracy

AOA varies inversely as the square of the
airspeed.
Therefore, AOA fidelity increases with
slower speeds and higher angles-of-attack.
At maneuvering speeds and lower, AOA is
it aerodynamically.

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AOA is the ultimate

aerodynamic instrument
AOA is used to establish the best approach,
best climb angles, maximum endurance,
long range cruise, best glides and other
flight maneuvers.
You do not disregard airspeed altogether,
but use the airspeed and angle-of-attack to
supplement one another.
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Flying AOA for All Approaches

Best AOA for
all Approaches.
Trim for this AOA.

AOA too low.

Increase back pressure
and trim if necessary.

AOA way too high!

Lower the AOA
and go around.

Middle yellow
light

Use the throttle to control the rate of descent!

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AOA is Instantaneous
but IAS Lags
Before

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Immediately after
stick/yoke pull

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AOA Professional Display

Zero
lift

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Best
L/D

Optimum
approach

Angle
advisory

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AOA Sport Display

Cruise

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Best
L/D

Optimum
approach

Angle
advisory

Critical
AOA

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Thanks for your attention

Fly Safe with ANGLE-of-ATTACK

Proprietary Software Systems, Inc.

www.angle-of-attack.com
Jim@angle-of-attack.com
(952) 474-4154
950 Iris Circle
Excelsior MN 55331

copyrighted 1999

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