Aircraft Dynamic Stability and Response

Aircraft Dynamic Stability and Response deals with the fundamentals of dynamic stability in aircraft. Topics covered include flight dynamics, equations of motion, and lateral and longitudinal aerodynamic derivatives. Basic lateral and longitudinal motions are also considered. A non-dimensional system of notation is used, and problems are included at the end of chapters. This book is comprised of 13 chapters and begins with an introduction to aircraft static stability and maneuverability, with emphasis on the theoretical basis of flight dynamics and the technical terms used. The physical background for the estimation of aerodynamic derivatives is discussed. Subsequent chapters focus on the longitudinal and lateral motion of aircraft, including the effect of automatic control; modern developments such as the effects of aeroelasticity, dynamic coupling, and high incidence; and aircraft response to gusts. The final chapter demonstrates how to estimate the aerodynamic derivatives, and hence the dynamic stability characteristics, of a typical fighter aircraft. Throughout the text, the aircraft and its behavior are kept well to the fore. This monograph is intended for undergraduate students of aeronautical engineering and for newcomers to the aircraft industry.