Introduction to Aircraft Flight Dynamics (Aiaa Education Series) [Hardcover]

Louis V. Schmidt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1563472260 | ISBN-13: 978-1563472268 | Publication Date: March 1998

Aimed directly at senior undergraduate engineering students as well as those beginning graduate work, this textbook uses linear algebraic principles and notations to establish airframe equations of motion. The use of this dimensional approach to stability derivatives when describing aerodynamic forces and moments in the six governing relations, assures that the solutions to given problems remain in real time and frequency. In addition, the textbook uses modern control theory concepts to introduce the airframe as a plant matrix operator and consistent use is made of matrix algebra-oriented software (MATLAB), as a tool for solving aircraft related problems in both the linear and nonlinear forms. Contemporary analytical methods are also employed to describe the aerodynamics involved in flight vehicle motion, and to develop a rationale for modelling and solving related problems in aircraft dynamics. The text also discusses modern control theory methods.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

L. V. Schmidt is Professor Emeritus at the Naval Postgraduate School. His career has included research, design, and teaching in industry, government, and academia. He began his career with the Boeing Airplane Company where he participated in the design of the prototype Boeing 707 jet transport. Later, while with Convair, he was responsible for the stability and control development of the Convair 880 and 990 jet transports. His research interests are in engineering mechanics oriented toward both aircraft and surface ship platforms. In addition to his teaching role in the university setting, he has also taught short courses to engineers and pilots at the Naval Air Test Center.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 397 pages
• Publisher: Amer Inst of Aeronautics & (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563472260
• ISBN-13: 978-1563472268
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #790,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Right Door to Flight Dynamics, January 17, 2002

By 

Muhammad Abdullah Mubarak Al-Mubarak (Ras Tanura, Najmah Saudi Arabia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Aircraft Flight Dynamics (Aiaa Education Series) (Hardcover)

This is the best textbook that I would not hesitate at all to recommend for students taking Flight Dynamics course. Based upon a comparison between this book and 3 other flight dynamics books (Flight Dynamics Principles, The Dynamics of Flight: The Equations, and Dynamics of Flight: Stability and Control), which I used for my course AE 426 at my university KFUPM, below is a list that summarizes my personal view about this book:

1.The starting point of this book, which was reviewing the ABC of aerodynamics, is excellent because of the fact that the subject of aircraft flight dynamics depend on an understanding of many physical fields including propulsion, structure, aerodynamics, and engineering mechanics. And this is something remarkable about this book in contrast to the others mentioned above.

2.The author stated the objective of every chapter.

3.Concepts are clearly explained in this textbook and are easy to understand.

4. The textbook has very good balance between theory and application.

5.The textbook has made me very interested in further study of this discipline of aerospace engineering.

6.There is a good number of problems to solve given at the end of each chapter. But, their final answers are not provided.

7.This textbook has excellent number of examples making it worthy of remark compared to other flight dynamics books I used. Actually, I am very happy indeed with its examples. You will find many provided examples with different level of difficulty that covers many concepts in flight dynamics.

8.The book was helpful in doing my projects as well as my major exams.

9.In the event that you have no idea about Matlab, which is a suitable computer software tool for flight dynamics analysis, this book has very simple Matlab flavor. You will find, in this book, some examples solved by using Matlab plus you have one appendix that deals with the usage of Matlab Programs. None of the other flight dynamics books mentioned above use Matlab Programs. Some Aerospace Engineering students are required to develop a Matlab program as a project, which we did at my university.

10.In addition to the Matlab appendix, there are 4 other good appendices in this book, which help me reviewing mathematical concepts required to understand in this course.

11.Airframe equations of motions in 3-D are very difficult indeed to visualize and learning how to get them was important part in my course, unfortunately the figures that the author, Mr. Schmidt, provided in this book did not meet my satisfaction very much.

Otherwise this book, to my way of thinking, is the best choice for students taking flight dynamic course. It deserves to get 4.5/5.0 if I were grading it individually. But, since I am grading it based on a comparison, it deserves full mark.