Aerodynamics of Flight Chapter 3 Introduction To understand what makes a glider fly, pilots must first have  an understanding of aircraft aerodynamics and how flight  is possible. An understanding of aerodynamics and how it  affects takeoffs, flight maneuvers, and landings allows pilots  to be more skillful and aware of the capabilities of the glider.  A thorough discussion about aeronautical terminology and  concepts related to aircraft in flight can be found in the Pilot’s  Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25),  which new pilots should review before learning about the  aerodynamics specific to gliders. This chapter discusses the  fundamentals of aerodynamics as it relates to gliders and glider  performance. The study of aerodynamics is a complicated  science, and pilots should consider the task of learning  aerodynamics as critical as learning how to land safely.