Basics of Flight from Udemy

The course teaches you about the fundamentals behind an airplane's systems, and how an airplane works. Taught in a very basic and easy-to-understand way, almost everyone can understand the contents of this course easily. This course covers the basics of flight, take-off, landing, construction, power, fly-by-wire, cabin pressure, sensors & If some of those terms don't make sense to you, don't worry, the specific video covering that topic will introduce you to it from the ground up.

This course is designed for anyone interested in airplanes and how they work. After completing this course, you will learn to appreciate airplanes and the "magic" that goes into making flight safe. The next time you are on a flight, you will be able to identify the different systems and theorems at play and be able to share them with others.

Do take note that this is not a technical course. Meaning, I will not be going into the engineering details of airplanes. Things such as calculation of lift, take-off length, drag, thrust, etc, will not be covered in this video. However, if you are just enrolling in a diploma/degree that teaches you about the engineering principles of airplanes, going through this course may give you an insight into what you will be learning throughout your course of study.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn about how an aircraft takes off, flies and lands
Explore the various safety features onboard an aircraft
Discover equipment and systems on an aircraft

Learn how airplanes avoid collision
Understand the purpose of emergency equipment onboard an aircraft

Learn about how an aircraft takes off, flies and lands
Explore the various safety features onboard an aircraft
Discover equipment and systems on an aircraft
Learn how airplanes avoid collision
Understand the purpose of emergency equipment onboard an aircraft

Syllabus

Basics of Flight

Introduction

Take-off

Landing

Construction

Power

Fly-by-wire

Cabin Pressure

Sensors & IFR

ILS

TCAS

ATC

Emergencies

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundational understanding of aircraft systems and flight principles, fostering an appreciation for aviation safety and technology

Offers a preview of topics covered in aviation diploma or degree programs, providing insight into future coursework

Explores the basics of flight, take-off, and landing, which are fundamental concepts for understanding air travel

Does not delve into engineering calculations of lift, drag, and thrust, which are essential for technical understanding

Focuses on basic concepts rather than technical details, which may not be suitable for experienced professionals

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Basics of Flight with these activities:

Review Basic Physics Concepts

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Review fundamental physics concepts to better understand the principles of flight discussed in the course.

Browse courses on Aerodynamics

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Review notes on forces and motion.
Practice problems related to lift and drag.

Read 'Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying'

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Gain a deeper understanding of flight dynamics and control through a pilot's perspective.

View Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Stick and Rudder'.
Read the chapters on basic flight maneuvers.
Reflect on how the concepts relate to the course material.

Explore Flight Simulator Tutorials

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Practice flight maneuvers and familiarize yourself with aircraft systems in a virtual environment.

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Install a flight simulator software.
Complete the tutorials on take-off and landing.
Experiment with different aircraft types.

Four other activities

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Read 'Airplane Flying Handbook' by FAA

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Expand your knowledge of flight principles and aircraft systems with a comprehensive guide from the FAA.

View Glider Flying Handbook (2025): FAA-H-8083-13B on Amazon

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Download the 'Airplane Flying Handbook' from the FAA website.
Review the sections on aircraft systems and aerodynamics.
Compare the information with the course content.

Create a Presentation on Aircraft Safety Features

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Reinforce your understanding of aircraft safety by researching and presenting on specific features.

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Choose a specific safety feature to research.
Gather information from reliable sources.
Create a visually appealing presentation.
Present your findings to a friend or family member.

Research Aircraft Accident Reports

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Analyze real-world accident reports to understand the factors that contribute to aviation incidents.

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Access the NTSB or similar aviation accident database.
Select a few accident reports to review.
Identify the causes and contributing factors.
Summarize your findings in a report.

Create a Flight Simulation Scenario

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Design a realistic flight scenario in a simulator to test your knowledge of aircraft systems and procedures.

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Choose a specific aircraft and route.
Configure weather conditions and system failures.
Fly the scenario and document your experience.
Reflect on the challenges and lessons learned.

Career center

Learners who complete Basics of Flight will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Aircraft Mechanic

An Aircraft Mechanic is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and inspection of aircraft. This role demands a strong grasp of how planes function along with a familiarity of the various systems within. This course, while not delving into the technical engineering aspect, introduces the core concepts, such as aircraft construction, different power sources, and the fly-by-wire system. Such knowledge helps an Aircraft Mechanic by providing an overview of the systems they will be working with. This course touches on the different systems and equipment on an aircraft, which a mechanic will maintain and repair. This may be useful for gaining a high level overview of the mechanics of flight.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aircraft Mechanic

Aerospace Engineer

An Aerospace Engineer designs and develops aircraft and spacecraft, along with their associated systems. While this course does not delve into the advanced engineering calculations, it introduces the core concepts of flight that an aerospace engineer designs. This course provides an awareness of how an aircraft operates, touching upon themes such as construction methods, power sources, and fly-by-wire systems. For individuals interested in pursuing an engineering degree, this overview may useful for the early stages of their studies. An aerospace engineer should understand the basics of flight, and this course may be useful to build a foundational understanding. This role typically requires an advanced degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer

Airline Pilot

An Airline Pilot is responsible for the safe operation of an aircraft, including take-off, flight, and landing. This course on the basics of flight provides an excellent introduction to the fundamental systems and procedures a pilot must understand. While not a technical course, it introduces important concepts such as fly-by-wire, cabin pressure, and the use of sensors. This course may be useful for gaining a basic understanding of aircraft operations, which serves as a foundation for further flight training. This course also touches on Instrument Landing Systems, Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems and Air Traffic Control, all critical components of the work of an airline pilot.

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Avionics Technician

An Avionics Technician specializes in the maintenance and repair of aircraft electronic systems, such as navigation, communication, and radar systems. This course introduces various aircraft systems, including sensors, and fly-by-wire systems, which helps establish a foundation for an avionics technician. By providing an overview of these systems, the course may be useful to provide a high-level understanding of the different electronic systems on board the aircraft. While this course does not delve into the technical aspects of the electronics, it provides a context for understanding the function of various systems. An avionics technician should find this course may be useful for their work.

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Aviation Safety Inspector

An Aviation Safety Inspector ensures compliance with safety regulations and standards within the aviation industry. An understanding of how an aircraft functions is valuable for an inspector. This course provides an introduction to the basic systems and the procedures involved in flight. The course includes discussions of emergency procedures, cabin pressure, and the instrumentation on modern aircraft. An aviation safety inspector may find that this course provides a useful overview into the different systems at play on an airplane. This course may be useful for building an awareness of what is required for safe flight.

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Flight Instructor

A Flight Instructor trains aspiring pilots and helps them learn how to fly an airplane. This course provides a helpful overview of the systems and technologies in flight while also introducing concepts that are the basis of learning how to fly. The course provides a good introduction to the mechanics of flight, which is useful for an instructor in this role. The concepts covered such as take-off, landing, and the fly-by-wire system form the base knowledge that is expanded in more technical flight training. This course may be useful in providing a good overview of all the systems within an aircraft.

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Air Traffic Controller

An Air Traffic Controller manages the flow of air traffic to ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft. This course is helpful in understanding the fundamental principles of flight, which is necessary for effective air traffic control. The course covers concepts like take-off, landing, and the purpose of onboard sensors, which enables an Air Traffic Controller to grasp the context of their instructions. The course details the technologies used to manage the airspace such as TCAS and ILS. By covering these basics, this course may be useful for gaining a foundational awareness of how airplanes function and the challenges of flight.

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Aircraft Dispatcher

An Aircraft Dispatcher is responsible for planning flight paths, considering weather, aircraft performance, and other factors. The fundamentals of how an airplane flies are useful for an effective aircraft dispatcher. This course introduces the key aspects of flight. Topics covered in this course, such as take-off, landing, and aircraft systems, helps an aircraft dispatcher appreciate the challenges of flight operations. This course may be useful for getting a high level view of aircraft systems.

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Flight Attendant

A Flight Attendant is responsible for ensuring passenger safety and comfort during flights. This course helps provide a foundational understanding of airplane systems and how flight works, which is beneficial for a competent Flight Attendant. This course covers essential concepts of safe flight, including safety features, cabin pressure, and emergency procedures. A flight attendant can gain an appreciation for the aircraft systems, and gain context into how they function and the safety systems that are in place. This course may be useful in ensuring flight attendants are more informed during their work.

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Aviation Software Developer

An Aviation Software Developer creates software for various aviation applications, including flight management systems, air traffic control, and passenger management. This course, while not technical, offers useful insights into the basic systems of an airplane. An understanding of these systems, such as fly-by-wire and sensors, is valuable for developing relevant software. This course may be useful to provide context for the various functions an aircraft performs. This overview of the different systems may be useful for a software developer in the aviation space.

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Airport Operations Manager

An Airport Operations Manager oversees the daily activities of an airport, ensuring smooth and safe operations. An understanding of aircraft operation is useful for the manager of a airport. This course introduces basic concepts of flight, including take-off, landing, and the various systems onboard airplanes. The course may be useful in providing the airport operations manager an understanding of the various systems involved in flight. This knowledge may enhance the day to day performance of the operations manager.

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Simulation Engineer

A Simulation Engineer develops and maintains realistic simulations, often for training and design purposes. This course introduces the fundamental principles of flight, which provides valuable context for designing and testing flight simulations. The course touches on various systems of an aircraft including fly by wire and emergency systems, which are also replicated in simulation environments. By teaching the basic systems of an aircraft a simulation engineer is better equipped to model those systems. This course may be useful to provide the general concepts of flight.

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Aviation Consultant

An Aviation Consultant provides expert advice to organizations in the aviation industry on a variety of topics. This course provides a solid overview of the basics of how airplanes work, which can help a consultant provide well-informed advice. The course covers important topics like aircraft systems, safety procedures, and emergency protocols. This can be useful for consultants when working with a variety of clients with different backgrounds. The consultant can use the knowledge to discuss the impact of these systems on aviation operations. This course may be useful for building a solid knowledge base of aircraft operations.

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Aviation Journalist

An Aviation Journalist reports on the aviation industry, including aircraft technology, regulations, and trends. This course provides an excellent overview of the basic principles of flight, which is useful for someone reporting on the technical side of aviation. By covering topics such as take-off, landing, and aircraft systems, an aviation journalist is better equipped to understand and report on these topics with a high level understanding. The course may be useful to build a foundational understanding of aviation operations.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products and processes. This course may be helpful for a Technical Writer working on aviation products or services. The course introduces the fundamental concepts of flight, such as the various systems within an aircraft. This course may be useful in providing a general overview of aviation technology, which serves as a foundation for learning about more complex topics. While this course is not very technical, it introduces the different systems in flight. A technical writer may use this knowledge to better understand the scope of their work.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Basics of Flight.

Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of...

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Provides an intuitive understanding of flight controls and how they affect the aircraft's movement. It classic text that explains the feel of flying, which complements the course's theoretical explanations. While not a technical manual, it offers valuable insights into the pilot's perspective and the practical aspects of controlling an aircraft. It is often recommended reading for aspiring pilots and aviation enthusiasts.

Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of...

Hardcover

Glider Flying Handbook

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This handbook, published by the FAA, provides comprehensive information on flight principles, aircraft systems, and flight maneuvers. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding the technical aspects of flying. While the course provides a basic overview, this book offers more in-depth explanations and practical guidance. It is commonly used by flight students and pilots.

Glider Flying Handbook (2025): FAA-H-8083-13B

Kindle Edition

Basics of Flight

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Activities

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