The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of the flight mechanics of fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Starting from the illustration of the architecture of the different types of aircraft, and hence of the role of their components, the objective of the course is to provide the student with knowledge relating to the following topics: 1) aircraft performance and identification of the main parameters of influence; 2) pilot commands and behavior of aircraft in the main operational situations; 3) trimmed flight conditions and aircraft static stability; 4) main airworthiness regulations underlying the aircraft design specifications. At the end of the course the student will be able to: 1) communicate with clarity, competence and language properties the issues related to the study of the flight mechanics of fixed and rotary wing aircraft; 2) examine aircraft flight during a typical mission; 3) contribute to the definition of the conceptual design of an aircraft.
teacher profile teaching materials
Elements of steady aerodynamics of fixed wings: lift and drag coefficients, polar curve of the aircraft; aerodynamic efficiency; finite wings.
Elements of rotorcraft aerodynamics: rotor loads, role of the wake and wake inflow.
Fixed-wing aircraft performance: power curve, range and endurance; climb performance, ceiling.
Glide performance and climb hodograph.
Rotorcraft performance.
Maneuvers (steady turn, flare maneuver) and gust response.
Load factor, V-n diagram, gust envelope and flight envelope.
Take off and landing performance.
Aircraft trimmed flight conditions.
Aircraft static stability and corresponding characterizing parameters.
• Mc Cormick, B.W., Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics. Wiley and Sons, 1995.
• Hildebrand, F.B., Methods of Applied Mathematics. Dover Publications, NY, 1992.
• Etkin, B., Dynamics of Flight-Stability and Control. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996.
• Padfield, G.D., Helicopter Flight Dynamics. Blackwell Science, 1996.
Programme
Aircraft components and their role in flight.Elements of steady aerodynamics of fixed wings: lift and drag coefficients, polar curve of the aircraft; aerodynamic efficiency; finite wings.
Elements of rotorcraft aerodynamics: rotor loads, role of the wake and wake inflow.
Fixed-wing aircraft performance: power curve, range and endurance; climb performance, ceiling.
Glide performance and climb hodograph.
Rotorcraft performance.
Maneuvers (steady turn, flare maneuver) and gust response.
Load factor, V-n diagram, gust envelope and flight envelope.
Take off and landing performance.
Aircraft trimmed flight conditions.
Aircraft static stability and corresponding characterizing parameters.
Core Documentation
• Lecture notes• Mc Cormick, B.W., Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics. Wiley and Sons, 1995.
• Hildebrand, F.B., Methods of Applied Mathematics. Dover Publications, NY, 1992.
• Etkin, B., Dynamics of Flight-Stability and Control. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996.
• Padfield, G.D., Helicopter Flight Dynamics. Blackwell Science, 1996.
Reference Bibliography
• Mc Cormick, B.W., Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics. Wiley and Sons, 1995. • Hildebrand, F.B., Methods of Applied Mathematics. Dover Publications, NY, 1992. • Etkin, B., Dynamics of Flight-Stability and Control. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996. • Padfield, G.D., Helicopter Flight Dynamics. Blackwell Science, 1996.Type of delivery of the course
The course is taught through traditional frontal lessons.Attendance
not compulsoryType of evaluation
The student is evaluated thorugh an oral examination, during which the report produced by student to present the results obtained in relation to an exercise proposed by the teacher is discussed.