Updates to fifth and sixth editions
Change in sequence of chapters
It was anticipated that glider pilots would have to take an exam in air law before they can fly solo. The chapters of the book were therefore re-ordered so that new solo pilots could read the first few chapters.
Also because of the EASA syllabus I also created a separate chapter on instruments which never really belonged in the principles of flight. A further chapter was later added on structures
NOTAMS
National Air Traffic Services changed the structure of individual NOTAMs once more. The NOTAMs are probably now more readable and there seem to be fewer abbreviations.
Principles of flight
I changed the datum that is used to measure the angle of attack to the more conventional chord line. To some extent the datum chosen is academic, but more people disagreed than agreed on the use of the line of zero lift, so I changed it.
I also added a paragraph on Newton's Second Law, though I have not mentioned the great man himself. Basically if you push something twice a heavy, you will have to push twice as hard to get the same acceleration. If you push something of the same weight twice as hard, it will accelerate twice as fast.
Other changes
Other things that have changed, apart from minor rewording, are:
In examples of conversations on the radio, I have now used the glider's official registration.
For some reason I said that food makes little difference to how fast you absorb alcohol. This is incorrect as anyone who has drunk on an empty stomach can testify. What I should have said is that it makes no difference to how fast you eliminate alcohol.
Dehydration is greatly increased by flying for long periods in the drier air at higher altitudes. After taking off in 32 degrees Celsius and then flying at 10,000-12,000 feet for a few hours, I can confirm this effect. The thirst mechanism also degrades after the age of fifty. (Incidentally this is why an experiment of requiring more water to be drunk by the inmates at an old people's home, greatly reduced the number of falls.)
My section on problematic attitudes was not aimed at any particular pilot that I have met, though one thought it was specifically addressed to him!
I have added "Advanced Soaring Made Easy" by Bernard Eckey to my reviews of books for further reading. (It is excellent.)
It was anticipated that glider pilots would have to take an exam in air law before they can fly solo. The chapters of the book were therefore re-ordered so that new solo pilots could read the first few chapters.
Also because of the EASA syllabus I also created a separate chapter on instruments which never really belonged in the principles of flight. A further chapter was later added on structures
NOTAMS
National Air Traffic Services changed the structure of individual NOTAMs once more. The NOTAMs are probably now more readable and there seem to be fewer abbreviations.
Principles of flight
I changed the datum that is used to measure the angle of attack to the more conventional chord line. To some extent the datum chosen is academic, but more people disagreed than agreed on the use of the line of zero lift, so I changed it.
I also added a paragraph on Newton's Second Law, though I have not mentioned the great man himself. Basically if you push something twice a heavy, you will have to push twice as hard to get the same acceleration. If you push something of the same weight twice as hard, it will accelerate twice as fast.
Other changes
Other things that have changed, apart from minor rewording, are:
In examples of conversations on the radio, I have now used the glider's official registration.
For some reason I said that food makes little difference to how fast you absorb alcohol. This is incorrect as anyone who has drunk on an empty stomach can testify. What I should have said is that it makes no difference to how fast you eliminate alcohol.
Dehydration is greatly increased by flying for long periods in the drier air at higher altitudes. After taking off in 32 degrees Celsius and then flying at 10,000-12,000 feet for a few hours, I can confirm this effect. The thirst mechanism also degrades after the age of fifty. (Incidentally this is why an experiment of requiring more water to be drunk by the inmates at an old people's home, greatly reduced the number of falls.)
My section on problematic attitudes was not aimed at any particular pilot that I have met, though one thought it was specifically addressed to him!
I have added "Advanced Soaring Made Easy" by Bernard Eckey to my reviews of books for further reading. (It is excellent.)
