Yechout Thomas R. et al. Introduction to Aircraft Flight Mechanics: Performance, Static Stability, Dynamic Stability, and Classical Feedback Control

Thomas R. Yechout, Steven L. Morris, David E. Bossert, Wayne F. Hallgren. — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc., 2003. XV, 634 p.Winner of the Summerfield Book Award! This textbook is based on a successful 15-year approach to teaching aircraft flight mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Intended for junior-level students presented with the material for the first time, the book clearly explains all the concepts and derivations of equations for aircraft flight mechanics. The material progresses through aircraft performance, static stability, dynamic stability, and feedback control. The chapters present real-world applications and contain problems. Each year the Academy's students are placed with industry, NASA, and Air Force labs as well as test organizations during the summer immediately following their junior year. The hosts are asked to provide feedback on how well the students are prepared in the fields of flight mechanics and aerodynamics. Each year, the student reviews are outstanding, illustrating the excellent quality of the authors' approach.A Review of Basic AerodynamicsFundamental Concepts and Relationships
The Standard Atmosphere
Airfoil Fundamentals
Finite Wings
Aircraft Aerodynamics
Historical Snapshot — The AC-130H Drag Reduction
EffortA Review of Basic PropulsionTypes of Propulsion Systems
Propulsion System Characteristics
Historical Snapshot — Aircraft Performance Modeling and the Learjet ModelAircraft PerformanceAirspeed
Equations of Motion for Straight, Level, and Unaccelerated Flight
ThrustandPowerCurves
Takeoff and Landing Performance
Gliding Fight
Climbs
Endurance
Range
Turn Performance and V-n Diagrams
Historical SnapshotAircraft Equations of MotionAircraft Axis Systems
Coordinate Transformations
Aircraft Force Equations
Moment Equations
Longitudinal and Lateral-Directional Equations of Motion
Kinematic Equations
Historical Snapshot — Genesis 2000 Flight SimulatorAircraft Static StabilityStatic Stability Overview
Stability, Control Power, and Cross-Control Derivatives, and Control Deflection Sign Convention
Longitudinal Applied Forces and Moments
Longitudinal Static Stability
Lateral-Directional Applied Forces and Moments
Lateral-Directional Static Stability
Summary of Steady-State Force and Moment Derivatives
Historical Snapshot — The X-38 Mid-Rudder InvestigationLinearizing the Equations of MotionSmall Perturbation Approach
Developing the Linearized Aircraft Equations of Motion
First-Order Approximation of Applied Aero Forces and Moments
First-Order Approximation of Perturbed Thrust Forces and Moments
Recasting the Equations of Motion in Acceleration Format
Historical Snapshot — The X-38 Parafoil Cavity
InvestigationAircraft Dynamic StabilityMass-Spring-Damper System and Classical Solutions of Ordinary Differential Equations
Root Representation Using the Complex Plane
Transforming the Linearized EOM to the Laplace Domain
Dyanmic Stability Guidelines
Cooper–Harper Ratings
Experimental Determination of Second-Order Parameters
Historical Snapshot — The A-10A Prototype Flight EvaluationClassical Feedback ControlOpen-Loop Systems, Transfer Functions, and Block Diagrams
Closed-Loop Systems
Closed-Loop Analysis of a Second-Order System
Closed-Loop Transfer Functions
Time Response Characteristics
Root Locus Analysis
Historical Snapshot — The C-1 AutopilotAircraft Stability and Control AugmentationInner-Loop Stability and Control
Outer-Loop Autopilot=Navigation Control
Compensation Filters
Combined Systems
Historical Snapshot — The A-7D DIGITAC Digital Multimode Flight Control System ProgramSpecial TopicsSystem Type and Steady-State Error
Frequency Response
Digital Control
Advanced Control Algorithms
Reversible and Irreversible Flight Control Systems
Spins
Historical Snapshot — The F-16 Fly-by-Wire SystemAppendix A Conversions
Appendix B Properties of the U.S. Standard Atmosphere
Appendix C Airfoil Data
Appendix D T-38 Performance Data
Appendix E Selected Laplace Transforms
Appendix F Cramer’s Rule
Appendix G Development of Longitudinal and Lateral-Directional Transfer Functions
Appendix H Stability Characteristics of Selected AircraftSeries listing