Why Airplanes Fly - Voids Above A Planar Sheet

Le Chaud Lapin wrote:
Given the ratio of ad hominem attacks I have experienced in my first
few days here versus true exploration, I was beginning to wonder if
the 10 people or so who have been responding are representative of
this group, since they do seem to generate the most messages. I saw
your post about 30 seconds after and concluded that perhaps they are
not.

First, I finally found time to read your initial post to this thread. It is
true that all the explanations you've read over the years are not quite
right - that is due to the nature of fluid dynamics. Except for some
trivial examples, the mathematics can't be solved except by numeric
approximation methods. The Bernoulli theorem for example assumes a pre-
existing streamline. It does not actually provide the all-important
streamlines! Otherwise the theorem does take account of all the applicable
conservation laws - but not in a form that can shed much insight into lift
(IMHO).

As to the response you've seen - well, I have some theories but if they are
correct there is nothing I can do, except possibly indirectly. Such as
making this post.

I think for the purposes of piloting that one does not need to know the
Navier-Stokes equations. Because quite honestly the real explanation of
lift is to be found in the differential equations (or integral form)
governing mass continuity, momentum, and energy. All those simple
explanations are just that - simple and obviously incomplete. Rest assured
you're correct in your observations on the inadequate explanations - but
don't make the mistake of assuming a simple _and_ accurate one must exist,
if only you think hard enough on it.

If you are interested in some books on the subject I'd be happy to make
some suggestions.