Flight Dynamics

Catalog description

Flight Dynamics is a three (3) credit hour, three (3) contact hour lectures to introduce the student to dynamics of aircraft flight. This course deals with the three-dimensional dynamics of aircraft, including general aircraft performance, stability and control, and handling qualities. Topics include: static and dynamic stability; longitudinal and lateral/directional control; mathematical development of rigid-body 6DOF equations-of-motion describing full range of aircraft motion; attitude dynamics and quaternion alternative; aerodynamic forming term coefficient development; linearization of nonlinear aircraft models; simulation of aircraft trajectories; aircraft system modes; and aircraft handling qualities introduction. Graduate students are expected to learn additional topics, e.g., quaternion methods, DATCOM programming, and frequency domain analysis of aircraft modes.