Induced Drag and Ground Effect

Here's a short video explaining the difference between the free airstream relative wind and the local relative wind and why the difference between the two results in induced drag. Visit www.rodmachado.com

[@NickEpper]

Never understood why induced drag decreases in ground effect. Thanks to this video, I now do!!

[@Flight-Instructor]

Thank you, Nick.
Best,
Rod

[@generico896]

Wow man. You're a great teacher.

[@Flight-Instructor]

Thank you! I sure do appreciate the comment.
Best,
Rod

[@pilot-plane-coffee1678]

Ps- I flew my Mooney M20J from Toronto to New Mexico: first time flying to high elevation airports. Your video on density altitude and how to lean a constant speed most likely saved me from an accident.

[@Flight-Instructor]

Thank you PPC:
I'm so pleased to know that the density altitude information helped you. Thank you so much for that comment.
Best,
Rod

[@oscarc332]

The legend of Flight simulator, Rod.

[@Flight-Instructor]

Thank you OC. I do appreciate the comment.

[@pilot-plane-coffee1678]

Thank-you sir. You have been my go to instructor on the Internet. I know I can trust your information and recommendations, and that is very important.

[@flyguy1637]

Excellent explanation!

[@Flight-Instructor]

Thank you, FlyGuy. I do appreciate the comment.
Best,
Rod

[@danieljamesmak]

Thank you. Have the textbook. Being a visual learner this was a complete explanation with visual support. Again thank you.

[@dylanstolz170]

Helpful tip: The average angle between the downwash and the relative airflow = the local airflow.

[@elelyon555]

Great video graphics and explanation, thank you!!

[@Flight-Instructor]

You're welcome. I do appreciate the comment.
Best,
Rod

[@Gustavo-iz5qk]

Great! Greetings from Brazil 👍🏾

[@louisfarrell7312]

great explanation thank you

[@Flight-Instructor]

You're welcome, Louis.
Best,
Rod

[@eddysanta1213]

Great video..

[@Flight-Instructor]

Thank you, Eddy.
Best,
Rod

[@markpacey1009]

Very well explained. Thank you

[@kakai7640]

there are so many people having aviation channel, but none of them are even close to Rod machado, thanks rod, and i hope you you make a video regarding to upwash and downwash exclusively .and could you explain what you mean by Local relative wind?

[@Flight-Instructor]

Greetings Kakai:
Thank you for that very nice comment. I'll certainly consider making the video you requested.
Best,
Rod

[@coskunkorkmaz5717]

Perfect explanation thanks

[@atakancalik8306]

brilliant vid thank you

[@johnclarke1045]

Thank you very much, nice and simple. Delivered factual but easily understandable content while removing all the excess garbage EASA bang on about. Cheers!

[@Flight-Instructor]

Greetings John:
Thank you for that comment and for taking the time to post it. It means a lot. EASA? Yes, complicated sometimes, no?
Best,
Rod

[@vittoriafiorentini8276]

Thank you very much again

[@WinginWolf]

WOw. Ahahah, couldn't have explained that better. Can't deflect wind downward as much (and get induced drag) if there's solid ground below!

[@Flight-Instructor]

Greetings WW:
I sure am grateful for that comment. Seeing airflow in action does make the concept easier to grasp.
Best to you,
Rod Machado

[@DavidLDana]

absolutely perfect

[@sameeralazawee7524]

Thank you

[@dennisharrington6055]

Thanks

[@hedleyfurio]

Thanks - two areas I would appreciate coverage in any course are . How the center of pressure moves around on the wing when ailerons are deployed ( laterally toward tip of downgoing aileron and slightly aft with inboard and slightly forward on other wing ) , then when flaps deployed ( inboard and toward trailing edge ) . Secondly why AOA is higher on inboard wing in a turn . Thanks .

[@tobyrice99]

Rod, was this video "induced" by our conversation? :^)

[@TimothyChapman]

Rod: "May you always land as soft as a butterfly with sore feet."
Me on the flight sim in custom aircraft: "How aggressively can I slow this thing down to make a safe landing."

[@nikovlogs9837]

"May you land as soft as a jumping monster truck with flat tires" - DCS Naval Aviation saying.

[@blakjack3053]

The aerodynamics of airplane flight is complex but that of bird flight is even more so.

[@elliottdiedrich3068]

The way that the illustration is demonstrated, it shows the air rising up to strike the underside of the wing like a constant updraft. That would sure be good for fuel economy because it would be like being in a constant descent even though you are flying straight and level. How do you get the air to suddenly rise toward the plane? Also, why do you show that the lift is vertical on a normal angle of attack but tilted back on an increased angle of attack?

[@Flight-Instructor]

Greetings:
The wing's overall pressure distribution results in the upwash ahead of the wing. The portion of lift that's vertical is often referred to as "Effective Lift." The portion tilted aft is the wing's Total Lift. The tilting aft of the total lifting force results in increased induced drag.

[@ShonMardani]

I discovered that Parasite drag is produced by VERTICAL surfaces and Induced drag is created by HORIZONTAL surfaces, for example when the Flaps are at 0 degrees they produce Max Induced drag and Min Parasite drag, at 90 degrees Min Induced and Max Parasite drag and at 45 degrees in the middle of both.
Please let me know if you think it is a valid observation. Thanks

[@N91CZ]

Induced drag is a squared function of lift coefficient.

[@rossodonnell5933]

Great explanation

[@nalamobil]

I still got one problem: How does this explain the effect of aspect ratio on induced drag?

[@willwillis6784]

Hi, as aspect ratio increases, induced drag decreases because the wing will be less effected by wingtip vortex the larger the aspect ratio, then obviously reducing induced drag because there would be less downwash from the wings and therefore the direction of lift will be 'tilted back' less. I hope this helps a bit

[@rehoboth_farm]

How would a 757 handle at 530 mph at an altitude of about 20 feet?

[@Flight-Instructor]

I have no idea.

[@rehoboth_farm]

@@Flight-Instructor "According to the 9/11 Commission Report, as Flight 77 was 5 miles (8.0 km) west-southwest of the Pentagon, it made a 330-degree spiral turn clockwise. At the end of the turn, it was descending through 2,200 feet (670 m), pointed toward the Pentagon and downtown Washington. Hani Hanjour advanced the throttles to maximum power and dove toward the Pentagon. While level above the ground and seconds from impact, the wings clipped five street lampposts and the right wing struck a portable generator, creating a smoke trail seconds before smashing into the Pentagon.[39][40] Flight 77, flying at 530 mph (853 km/h, 237 m/s, or 460 knots) over the Navy Annex Building adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery,[41] impacted the western side of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, just south of Washington, D.C., at 09:37:46.[42] The plane hit the Pentagon at the first-floor level,"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines_Flight_77#Crash

[@pilotboy2612]

He asks and he answers

[@rehoboth_farm]

@@pilotboy2612 go try it out and tell us about it.

[@ubuntuguy8274]

You sound like Brian Tracy 🙂

[@mattematsson554]

Slow speed increases induced drag. It creates vortex around the wingtips which disturb the airflow (lift) over the wing. The ground effect "cuts" the vortex and the airflow/lift increase. Some say that the plane is "cushioned".

[@orlandospencer]

Folks, Please practice clicking. Again, someone mistakenly clicked the 👎 button...

[@Flight-Instructor]

Ha, I got a good laugh out of that one, Orland. Thank you.
Rod

[@orlandospencer]

@@Flight-Instructor Anytime, great material as always.

[@fajaridho]

brilliant vid thank you

[@cornondajakob]

Thanks