Mechanics of Flight

Mechanics of Flight (251 - 15344)
Study: Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering
Semester 2/Spring Semester
3RD Year Course/Upper Division

Students Are Expected to Have Completed:

Introduction to Flight Mechanics
Aerodynamics
Aerospace Propulsion

Compentences and Skills that will be Acquired and Learning Results:

Mechanics of Flight is designed to introduce students to the performance, stability, and control of aircraft. Particular attention is given to mathematical models and techniques for analysis, simulation of the aircraft motion, and evaluation of flying qualities, with brief discussion of guidance, navigation, and control. Topics include equations of motion, configuration aerodynamics, and longitudinal/lateral/directional motions.

Description of Contents: Course Description

1. Introduction to Mechanics of Flight
1.1. Subject of Mechanics of Flight
1.2. Elements of the Aircraft
1.3. Aircraft Reference Geometry
1.4. Reference Frames
1.4.1. Basic Reference Frames
1.4.2. Transformations
1.5. Summary of vocabulary

2. Equations of Motion
2.1. Kinematics
2.2. Dynamics
2.3. External forces
2.3.1. Aerodynamic Terms
2.3.2. Propulsive Terms
2.4. Examples

3. Performances
3.1. Level Flight and Gliding Flight
3.2. Flight in Vertical Plane
3.3. Turning Flight
3.4. Takeoff and Landing
3.5. Energy Methods
3.6. High Speed Flight and Aircraft in Ground Effect

4. Static Stability and Control
4.1. Longitudinal Stability and Control
4.1.1. Stick Fixed Conditions
4.1.2. Stick Free Conditions
4.1.3. In maneuver
4.2. Lateral-Directional Stability and Control

Learning Activities and Methodology:

Theory sessions.
Problem sessions working individually and in groups.
Lab-sessions with simulation software.

Assessment System:

Final exam (60%)
Practical problems with evaluation of reports and oral exam (40%)
Required minimum mark on final exam: 4/10

Basic Bibliography:

Bernard Etkin and Lloyd D. Reid. Dynamics of Flight. Wiley. 1996
Mario Asselin. An Introduction to Aircraft Performance. AIAA Educational Series. 1997

Additional Bibliography:

Alfred Cotterill Kermode. Mechanics of Flight. Longman. 1996
Angelo Miele. Flight Mechanics, Vol.1 . Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.. 1962
Bandu N. Pamadi. Performance, Stability, Dynamics and Control of Airplanes. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.. 2004
Barnes Warnock McCormick. Aerodynamics Aeronautics and Flight Mechanics. Wiley. 1995
Bernard Etkin. Dynamics of Atmosopheric Flight. Dover Publications. 2005
Bernard Etkin, Lloyd D. Reid. Dynamics of Flight. Stability and Control. Wiley. 1996
Cubierta delantera Barnes Warnock McCormick. Aerodynamics Aeronautics and Flight Mechanics. Wiley. 1995
Francis J. Hale. Introduction to Aircraft Performance, Selection and Design. Wiley. 1984
Holt Ashley. Engineering Analysis of Flight Vehicles. Courier Dover Publications. 1992
M. V. Cook. Flight Dynamics Principles. Elsevier. 2007
Mario Asselin. Introduction to Aircraft Performance. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 1997
Robert C. Nelson. Flight Stability and Automatic Control. WCB/McGraw Hill. 1998
Shiva Kumar Ojha. Flight Performance of Aircraft. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 1995