Sam Parr

Sam Parr's Anti-MBA Learning Machine

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Learning Plan: Building a flying machine

Alright, let's get into this no-BS learning plan for building a flying machine. Buckle up, folks!

1. Breaking it Down in a Nutshell

Imagine you're explaining building a flying machine to a 5-year-old. You'd say something like this:

"Hey, imagine a giant metal bird that can take you to the sky. It's like a super cool car, but instead of wheels, it has wings that flap or spin to lift you up. You need to make sure it's strong, can move really fast, and has someone who knows how to fly it. It's like a magic machine that takes you on adventures!"

2. Core Mental Models

Here are 3-5 key mental models or frameworks for understanding building a flying machine:

  1. The Four Forces of Flight:

    • Lift: The upward force that keeps the plane flying.
    • Weight: The downward force that pulls the plane towards the ground.
    • Thrust: The forward force that helps the plane move.
    • Drag: The backward force that slows the plane down.

  2. The Control Surfaces:

    • Ailerons: Flaps on the wings that help turn the plane.
    • Elevators: Flaps on the tail that help the plane go up or down.
    • Rudder: The flat surface on the tail that helps steer the plane.

  3. The Bernoulli's Principle:

    • How air flows faster over the curved top surface of the wing and slower underneath, creating lift.

3. Must-Know Concepts

Here are 3-5 essential concepts:

  1. Wing Design:

    • The shape and angle of the wing are crucial for creating lift.

  2. Engine Performance:

    • The engine needs to produce enough thrust to counteract the drag and lift the plane.

  3. Control Systems:

    • The mechanisms that pilots use to control the plane's movements.

4. High-Impact Resources

Here are three killer resources:

  1. Book: "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langewiesche

    • Why it's awesome: It explains the basics of flight in a very intuitive way.
    • Covers: Fundamentals of flight, control surfaces, and basic aerodynamics.

  2. Video: "The Basics of Flight" by Crash Course

    • Why it's awesome: Easy-to-understand animations make complex concepts simple.
    • Covers: The four forces of flight and Bernoulli's Principle.

  3. Article: "How Airplanes Work" by NASA

    • Why it's awesome: Detailed explanations with diagrams.
    • Covers: Wing design, engine performance, and control systems.

5. Get-Your-Hands-Dirty Tasks

Here are three specific, actionable things to do:

  1. Build a Model Airplane:

    • Use a simple kit to build a model airplane to understand wing design and control surfaces.

  2. Simulate Flight:

    • Use flight simulation software to practice flying and understand the control systems.

  3. Calculate Lift and Drag:

    • Use basic formulas to calculate lift and drag on a wing to understand aerodynamics.

6. The Ultimate Test

Build a functional model airplane and successfully fly it. This will prove you've got the concepts down and can apply them practically.

7. Flashcards for Rapid Recall

Here are five key questions:

  1. Question: What are the four forces of flight?

    • Answer: Lift, Weight, Thrust, and Drag.

  2. Question: What is Bernoulli's Principle?

    • Answer: It explains how air flowing faster over a curved surface creates lift.

  3. Question: What are ailerons, elevators, and the rudder?

    • Answer: Control surfaces on an airplane used for turning, ascending/descending, and steering.

  4. Question: Why is wing design important?

    • Answer: It determines the lift generated by the airplane.

  5. Question: What is thrust in the context of flight?

    • Answer: The forward force produced by the airplane's engine that propels it through the air.

8. Common Pitfalls

Here are two common misconceptions and how to avoid them:

  1. Misconception: "Wings are flat and just need to be big to fly."

    • Reality: Wings need to be curved on top and flat on the bottom to create lift.
    • How to avoid it: Understand Bernoulli's Principle and wing design basics.

  2. Misconception: "Engines just need to be powerful to make a plane fly."

    • Reality: The engine must produce thrust that is balanced with the drag and weight of the plane.
    • How to avoid it: Study the relationship between thrust, drag, and weight.

Alright, there you have it Follow this plan, and you'll be building flying machines like a pro. Happy flying

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