there is nothing like having theory and practice come together. I learned exactly how slow of mind I was while watching my son get a doctorate in EE. Developing new math to fit what he was working on, etc. My mind just doesn't warp around those things. I accept it. I proof read it for sentence structure (which was perfect) but after the first page I had no idea what the heck he was writing about. But watching him working I realize how it must feel when math is indeed fun.

However for most of what we need to do to work in aerodynamics on a practical level the math is easy and fits so well. It took me what seemed to be years to be able to watch an airplane motion and be able to put some math with it. I worked next to a brilliant aero who did the departure and spin work on the F-15. He would watch a film of the spin work and go through the process of determining what drove it so we could know what to do as a result, I was amazed at the depth of his understanding of the equations of motion and tried to pick up as much as I could. Unfortunately I am a slow learner. Drat.

What it does let you do is observe things and realize that tails do lift, etc. You will be more satisfied in your aero work in the future if you make the math fun too. It helps dispel all the old wives tales that seem to prevail amoung pilots and model airplane folks (no insult meant, don't beat me up because I said it, I am must trying to encourage the lad).