--- product_id: 8128706 title: "Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics (Aerospace Series)" price: "£98.41" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/8128706-understanding-aerodynamics-arguing-from-the-real-physics-aerospace-series store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics (Aerospace Series) **Price:** £98.41 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics (Aerospace Series) - **How much does it cost?** £98.41 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/8128706-understanding-aerodynamics-arguing-from-the-real-physics-aerospace-series) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Much-needed, fresh approach that brings a greater insight into the physical understanding of aerodynamics Based on the author’s decades of industrial experience with Boeing, this book helps students and practicing engineers to gain a greater physical understanding of aerodynamics. Relying on clear physical arguments and examples, Mclean provides a much-needed, fresh approach to this sometimes contentious subject without shying away from addressing "real" aerodynamic situations as opposed to the oversimplified ones frequently used for mathematical convenience. Motivated by the belief that engineering practice is enhanced in the long run by a robust understanding of the basics as well as real cause-and-effect relationships that lie behind the theory, he provides intuitive physical interpretations and explanations, debunking commonly-held misconceptions and misinterpretations, and building upon the contrasts provided by wrong explanations to strengthen understanding of the right ones. Provides a refreshing view of aerodynamics that is based on the author’s decades of industrial experience yet is always tied to basic fundamentals. Provides intuitive physical interpretations and explanations, debunking commonly-held misconceptions and misinterpretations Offers new insights to some familiar topics, for example, what the Biot-Savart law really means and why it causes so much confusion, what “Reynolds number” and “incompressible flow” really mean, and a real physical explanation for how an airfoil produces lift. Addresses "real" aerodynamic situations as opposed to the oversimplified ones frequently used for mathematical convenience, and omits mathematical details whenever the physical understanding can be conveyed without them. Review: must read for those in the field - Too often aerodynamics has been treated as applied mathematics. This is akin to force the learning of English by committing to memory English grammar rules that the vast majority of native speakers never think about. This has an effect of discouraging anyone but the most unusual students. This book, along with Ed Obert's Aerodynamic design of transport airplane, published in 2009, are important and refreshing in that both are highly informative but not math heavy. Obert's book is one of experience. McLean's book, however, tackles the theory of aerodynamics from a physical point of view. It enhances your understanding of the fundamentals, which is a necessary part of an aerodynamicist's know-how. Only by combining a strong background in theory and all-around experience can an aerodynamicist hope to function in today's highly competitive aircraft manufacturing business. I sincerely recommend this book to people who have long lost hope in a pure mathematical and lifeless approach. Review: A New Approach - Understanding Aerodynamics is a new approach at explaining why various aerodynamic characteristics take place. Most aerodynamics textbooks use experimental data and theoretical developments to explain aerodynamics, but there are very few equations or theories developed here. The basis is an understanding of the physical mechanisms that lead to lift and drag, which is a refreshing and important contribution. The downside is that the author tends to throw out many classic theories because they can't explain all details of aerodynamics: my response to that is to quote the well-used statement "all theories are wrong, but some are useful." Just because a theory isn't perfect (and none of them are) doesn't mean the theory can't be useful and important. What the author should concentrate on, perhaps, is that we should never confuse our theories with reality, and I think that is an important contribution. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #986,088 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #54 in Aerodynamics (Books) #160 in Mechanics #696 in Aeronautics & Astronautics (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (44) | | Dimensions | 6.9 x 1.22 x 9.92 inches | | Edition | 1st | | ISBN-10 | 1119967511 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1119967514 | | Item Weight | 2.2 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 576 pages | | Publication date | December 26, 2012 | | Publisher | Wiley | ## Images ![Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics (Aerospace Series) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Se3C9ejhL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ must read for those in the field *by S***S on August 3, 2013* Too often aerodynamics has been treated as applied mathematics. This is akin to force the learning of English by committing to memory English grammar rules that the vast majority of native speakers never think about. This has an effect of discouraging anyone but the most unusual students. This book, along with Ed Obert's Aerodynamic design of transport airplane, published in 2009, are important and refreshing in that both are highly informative but not math heavy. Obert's book is one of experience. McLean's book, however, tackles the theory of aerodynamics from a physical point of view. It enhances your understanding of the fundamentals, which is a necessary part of an aerodynamicist's know-how. Only by combining a strong background in theory and all-around experience can an aerodynamicist hope to function in today's highly competitive aircraft manufacturing business. I sincerely recommend this book to people who have long lost hope in a pure mathematical and lifeless approach. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A New Approach *by R***S on June 30, 2013* Understanding Aerodynamics is a new approach at explaining why various aerodynamic characteristics take place. Most aerodynamics textbooks use experimental data and theoretical developments to explain aerodynamics, but there are very few equations or theories developed here. The basis is an understanding of the physical mechanisms that lead to lift and drag, which is a refreshing and important contribution. The downside is that the author tends to throw out many classic theories because they can't explain all details of aerodynamics: my response to that is to quote the well-used statement "all theories are wrong, but some are useful." Just because a theory isn't perfect (and none of them are) doesn't mean the theory can't be useful and important. What the author should concentrate on, perhaps, is that we should never confuse our theories with reality, and I think that is an important contribution. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is blowing my mind *by H***T on February 26, 2020* This book is definitely not a light read, but the information is written in a way that makes aerodynamics quite understandable even to a non-scientist. So many of the concepts are new to me, even as someone who has loved aviation all his life, flies airplanes and volunteers at an aviation museum. ## Frequently Bought Together - Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics - Flight Vehicle Aerodynamics (Mit Press) - Aerodynamics: Selected Topics in the Light of Their Historical Development (Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/8128706-understanding-aerodynamics-arguing-from-the-real-physics-aerospace-series](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/8128706-understanding-aerodynamics-arguing-from-the-real-physics-aerospace-series) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-06-05*