Introduction to Flight Dynamics

This book is intended to serve a diverse audience of students, scientists and engineers who are interested in understanding and utilizing the concepts of flight dynamics. The following notes provide to the reader the basic principles based on a classical analytical approach. The concepts of controllability and maneuverability are detailed starting from the definition of stability and control of the equilibrium states. Equations for the estimation of hinge moments and stick force in steady and maneuvering flight are provided. The equations of motion are then extended to unsteady flight and a detailed analytical model is derived for dynamic stability analysis, including an interpretation of stability and control derivatives. Modal response of the vehicle in the longitudinal and lateral-directional plane is also reconstructed. The problems inherent to the evaluation of the flying qualities of a fixed-wing aircraft and the elements of parameter identification are also introduced. Finally, open and closed loop response to controls is discussed both in time and frequency domain.