Recently, Dave Butler posted:

Neil Gould wrote:

If what you think is true, then it is possible to determine the AOA
when the aircraft is parked. Do so, and I'll revise my thinking.
The wonderful thing about this level of mathematics is that it is
not ambiguous. If any usage results in a violation of the
definition, then the usage is wrong, period.

Sorry if I was harsh. The point is, usually one coming seeking
knowledge is not quite so sure of himself. You might do better to ask
questions rather than asserting that you know everything, that you
are right, and anyone claiming otherwise is "wrong, period". If you
rely on a brief dictionary definition of terms, it is likely you are
missing a lot of nuance and detail.

Your guidance is appreciated, Dave. However, I think you may have an
impression of me and "how we got here" that doesn't reflect my
"self-assurance". I am not claiming to "know everything", or even nearly
so. I do ask questions, such as the one that I've repeatedly asked, above,
and so far have gotten only replies that I'm wrong and everyone else has
the "right answer period". As well, a lot of my "attitude problem" stems
from the claims that were erroneously attributed to me, and the subsequent
responses from those that thought those attributions were true, or at
least didn't acknowledge that they weren't.

Frankly, I think we've all been dancing around this, and I suspect it's
gone way beyond its importance with regard to how we use AOA in every-day
aviation. ;-)

Anyway, a high-school or undergraduate mathematics text is a better
source of knowledge about scalar and vector mathematics than either a
dictionary or this group. I recommend you get one and read and
understand it.

(chuckle) Unfortunately, I got rid of those many decades ago. However, the
few calculus, geometry, and logic texts that I still have from my time in
engineering school (also many decades ago, so I'm not claiming any special
priveledge on the basis of that experience) so far don't refute what I've
presented: a vector with a magnitude of zero is legit; a scalar with a
directional component is not.

I can envision an argument that hasn't been presented that would establish
AOA as a scalar, and it relates to the question the AOA of an aircraft
while parked. I'm searching for a valid example of it (off-line, btw),
but, so far, I've come up dry. If I do find one that supports the argument
I envision, I'll present it as a follow-up refuting my own assertion,
along with an apology to those I suggested were "wrong". Not that they're
holding their breath, since they just think I'm just "wrong", anyway!
;-)

Regards,

Neil