Aircraft Flight Mechanics and Aerodynamics Stability and Control Course

Program Overview

The Aircraft Flight Mechanics and Aerodynamics Stability and Control course provides a comprehensive understanding of flight mechanics, aerodynamics, propulsion, performance, stability, and control for fixed-wing aircraft. Taught virtually by an experienced instructor, the course covers both theoretical and practical aspects, using real-world examples and Matlab simulations to illustrate key concepts. This course is designed to prepare students for careers in the aerospace industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview: The Aircraft Flight Mechanics and Aerodynamics Stability and Control course delves into the fundamentals of flight mechanics as applied to atmospheric, fixed-wing flight vehicles.
It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of interconnected topics such as aerodynamics, propulsion, performance, static and dynamic stability, and flight controls. This course is conducted virtually via Adobe Connect.
• Objectives: The primary objective of this course is to introduce the subject of Flight Mechanics as applied to atmospheric, fixed-wing flight vehicles, and provide a clear understanding of related topics, specifically Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Performance, Static and Dynamic Stability, and Flight Controls.

Outline:

• Course Content:
• The course commences with a historical overview of flight development, followed by a concise review of aerodynamic and propulsion principles.
• Subsequently, the focus shifts to aircraft performance, stability and control, and flight controls.
• Both the theoretical and practical methodologies for designing and analyzing fixed-wing aircraft for a wide range of applications will be examined.
• The course is enriched with real-world examples drawn from the instructor's extensive experience in the aerospace industry.
• Aircraft Performance topics include takeoff, climb, turning, landing, range/endurance, and power curves.
• Aircraft Stability and Control/Flight Controls topics encompass the longitudinal and lateral-directional equations of motion and their derivation from Newton's principles, linearization and practical application of the equations of motion, aircraft static and dynamic stability, linear
  onlinear systems, time and frequency domain analysis, longitudinal and lateral-directional modal characteristics, Flying Qualities design requirements, Handling Qualities assessments, including Pilot-in-the-Loop Simulation Tests and Cooper-Harper/Pilot-Induced Oscillation rating scales, classical feedback control, stability and control augmentation of unstable airframes, and system integration and testing.
• The significance of key parameters and principles is further emphasized through examples of actual aircraft accidents.
• The equations of motions will also be modeled in a representative Matlab simulation to better illustrate the effects of key stability coefficients/derivatives on the overall aircraft response characteristics.

Assessment:

• Not specified in the provided context.

Teaching:

• The course is taught by an experienced instructor with extensive experience in the aerospace industry.
• The instructor utilizes real-world examples to illustrate key concepts and principles.
• The course is conducted virtually via Adobe Connect.

Careers:

• Not specified in the provided context