Overview

Physics is the foundation of flying. From the force that keeps an aircraft in the air to the weather that affects your route: a good understanding of physics is essential for every pilot. Which physics comes up? Pilot assessments test three main areas: aerodynamics (lift, drag, stall), meteorology (weather, fronts, turbulence) and instruments (how they work, what they measure).

In detail (1)

The level is upper secondary school; the emphasis is on understanding, not on complex formulas. Aerodynamics basics Four forces act on an aircraft: lift (up), weight (down), thrust (forward) and drag (backward). Lift is created by the flow of air over the wing (Bernoulli principle). A stall occurs when the angle of attack becomes too large and the airflow separates.

In detail (2)

Meteorology basics Weather affects every flight. Key concepts: air pressure and altimeters, fronts (warm, cold, occluded), cloud types and precipitation, wind (gradient wind, wind shear, turbulence) and visibility (fog, precipitation). Learn to read METAR and TAF reports. Instruments and navigation Understand how the basic flight instruments work: the altimeter and airspeed indicator (pitot-static system), the artificial horizon (gyroscope), the heading indicator and the vertical speed indicator .

In detail (3)

This helps you not only in the assessment but also later in your training.