Customer Reviews

Mechanics of Flight

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"Mechanics of Flight" will become a classic in the aerodynamicist's library alongside Abbott and Von Doenhoff's "Theory of Wing Sections". Here's why:

* Coverage of topics in aircraft design is exhaustive. From balancing lift and weight for steady flight, on through off axis forces and moments from running propellers, to 6-dof formulas for aircraft dynamic modes, to how propeller location affects aircraft stability, and on and on. Great for both the beginner and the authority in aircraft.

* Often a completely thorough analysis including the minutest effects is presented along with a linearized or simplified method. The simplified analysis is so useful for rapid conceptual design and study of fundamentals, while the detailed analysis gives a complete grasp of the physics and phenomena involved. Plus, in simplifying a complex derivation, the reader is shown which parameters may be safely neglected and which require careful scrutiny, and what is engineering if not intelligently ignoring smaller effects to come up with a reasonable solution to a problem?

* The figures! Well thought out and consistent, the figures clearly illustrate the material.

* Actual aircraft data is used in the example and homework problems. I have a feel for the performance of several classes of aircraft simply from using this book.

* Phillips derives everything, and I mean everything using the fundamental laws of physics as the starting point. A student would be very well served to go through these derivations themselves. Phillips basically shows the student how to learn and how to think mathematically. No shortcuts here. I wish I had learned these things very early on in my own schooling.

* Phillips has included experimental data along with rigorous analytical derivation and computer numerical analysis. I believe that all three are necessary for a true understanding of fluid dynamics.

The bottom line: Buy and use this book! While it is true that the material is focused on subsonic flight, I work for a large airframer of supersonic aircraft and I find the principles and fundamentals to be extremely useful in my work. Whether you are a student or a professional, if you have an interest in aerodynamics this is THE book to use.

This text provides unparalled detail in it's discussion of flight mechanics. It contains clear and concise derivations of underlying equations and has well planned figures and example problems. Subject matter includes static and dynamic stability, propulsion, lifting line theory, 6-dof flight simulation with quaternions, along with many other essential topics. I particularly appreciated the straightforward way in which Phillips applies numerical methods to solving many of the problems. The equations required are located in such a manner as to make it easy to find what you need. Though mainly geared toward subsonic flight, I have found the understanding gained through this book invaluable in the design of supersonic vehicles. This is a great book for students learning the subject for the first time and a must have for engineering professionals and aircraft enthusiasts.

I am an Aerospace engineer working for the Air Force. While attending the annual AIAA aerospace convention in Reno Nevada, I met a professor from Denmark who raved about the work and research of a professor local to the west, Phillips. This seasoned scholar from Denmark wouldn't miss a session if he found Phillips' name appearing in it. I picked up the "Mechanics of Flight" which was on display for the first time at that conference. Due to the mountain of topics covered (900+ pages) I can't say that I have read every line of that book but the material I studied was impressive. I've never seen such complete derivations right from F=MA. The explanations are meticulous and thorough. I coded a real-time 6-DOF flight simulator for a midsized RCAV using this book as the main reference. I've never seen such a straightforward explanation of Quaternion algebra. If there were a "bible" of flight mechanics and dynamics, I would certainly give this my vote over any other in its class.

This book lays out the concepts of aircraft performance and simulation in an exceptionally clear and easy to follow format. There is no wondering how the concepts in each chapter fit together and how they apply to aircraft design or analysis.

The formulations for aircraft performance are very robust and provide the reader/student with the formulation of each equation from basic priciples in an easy to understand style.

A highlight of the book are the chapters on flight simulation and dynamic stability. The methods presented for 6-dof dynamic stability and quaternion based flight simulation are clearly explained and the examples provided walk the reader through the process of implementing them. These methods are also faster and more accurate than similar methods I have seen used here at NAVAIR, and implement them every time I can into older codes.

This book covers every aspect of flight mechanics that the beginning and intermediate student needs to know and does not confuse the reader!!

"Mechanics of Flight" is an excellent textbook for students of aeronautics as well as an invaluable reference for engineers practicing in aerospace, experimental homebuilders, and pilots having a flare for science. The subject matter is well-organized, thorough in coverage, comprehensively indexed, and has an impressive bibliography. There are numerous worked examples, excellent graphics to illustrate concepts, and many aeronautical/aerodynamic relationships are plotted to demonstrate parametric relationships. Numerical solution techniques are discussed throughout the book and many problems are tailored for a programmed solution on a digital computer. Although this is a textbook, and the concepts are demonstrated using rigorous mathematical derivations, considerable insight into the mechanics of flight can be gained by simply reading the text, studying the figures and absorbing the numerous tips and rules of thumb. The reader is taken from overviews of aerodynamics and propulsion in the first two chapters through aircraft performance, aircraft controls and maneuverability, static stability and control, aircraft dynamics, handling qualities, and closing with aircraft flight simulation.

Prandtl's classical lifting-line method is the basis for much of the aerodynamic theory used in the book. The author uses the method to explore lift and drag for various wing planforms. He further develops the effects of geometric and/or aerodynamic twist and how induced drag is affected. A significant result shown is that there is an optimum washout distribution for any wing planform which will minimize induced drag. The author has also generalized lifting-line theory to allow study of the effects of wing sweep, dihedral and interaction between lifting surfaces. The method is about 4 orders of magnitude faster than panel methods and 6 orders of magnitude faster than CFD solutions. The numerical lifting-line method with parasitic drag included provides a computationally efficient method for preliminary aircraft design.

The author has presented a particularly thorough discussion of propeller theory in Chapter 2. This section may be of particular interest to pilots. Fixed-pitch and constant-speed propellers histories are included and their mechanical attributes and efficiency compared. The reader gains considerable insight into how a propeller does its job and how one might select a certain propeller for a particular aircraft and mission. Both Goldstein's vortex theory and the more common propeller momentum theory are developed by the author. He has also shown how momentum theory can be improved by incorporating slipstream rotation. The chapter on aircraft performance also provides practical insight on fuel consumption, endurance, and range. Numerous worked examples show how these parameters change with gross weight and wind, illustrating the mathematical equations with plots to simplify the information. The section on takeoff and landing performance may be of special interest to homebuilders and pilots.

The chapters on static stability and trim will also be of interest to the homebuilder. Simplified pitch stability analysis is presented for standard wing-tail and wing-canard combinations, which are useful for preliminary aircraft design as well as an estimate for downwash angle on an aft tail. Many factors affecting pitch stability and their effects are discussed in detail, including the contribution of a running propeller, and its location, on the static stability of an airplane. Lateral stability is treated with equal aplomb and some rules of thumb for aircraft design are provided. Longitudinal-lateral coupling, such as the yawing moment produced by a rotating propeller, is described and the designer alerted to the fact that static stability cannot always be separated into longitudinal and lateral motion.

Chapter 7 provides a more general formulation of the rigid-body equations of motion than presented in the preceding chapters. This chapter will thrill the mathematics enthusiast! It starts with a review of mathematical notation and coordinate systems and proceeds to develop Newton's second law for rigid-body dynamics. Ultimately, the nondimensional linearized equations of motion are derived for a symmetric configuration after applying the small disturbance approximation. The last section of this chapter discusses how inertial and gyroscopic coupling come into play if symmetry is relaxed.

Linearized longitudinal and lateral dynamics are examined in Chapters 8 and 9 and the eigenvalues obtained from the solution of the eigenvalue problem are related to the phugoid, Dutch roll, etc. Longitudinal-lateral coupling in the equations of motion is addressed by solving the full 12x12 eigen-problem associated with linearized aircraft dynamics. It is shown that a flight condition as simple as turning flight introduces this coupling, which cannot be fully analyzed using the uncoupled equations.

I personally found the comprehensive presentation of the quaternion formulation for 6-DOF flight simulation, which is presented in Chapter 11, to be unique, interesting, and understandable. This information is not available in any other single source to the best of my knowledge.

It is not possible in this brief space to do justice to the comprehensive coverage of flight mechanics provided by this textbook. The book is rich in aircraft history, modern approaches to classical solution methods and new ways to look at well-founded theories. The only possible shortcoming that I could find was the need to make my way through the challenging mathematics that supports the concepts (not necessarily a bad thing for a textbook). It will be a resource used for many years by students, practicing engineers, experimental homebuilders, pilots, and maybe even model airplane enthusiasts. This book may be destined to become a classic in the field!

Warren Phillips has broken the mold with this book. I am currently a Doctoral candidate in aerospace engineering and I found his use of examples and ability to clearly explain complex topics to be unparalleled in any other text. Myths and misunderstandings about flight mechanics that have propagated down through decades of other texts are disproved or clarified. Dr. Phillips clearly understands and has thoroughly researched each topic that he presents, as the reader is never left in the dark by the ambiguous "hand-waiving" so common in other texts.

For professionals, the exhaustive index and methodical explanations make Mechanics of Flight the ideal reference.

For students in mechanical, aeronautical, or aerospace engineering, there has never been available a more student friendly text for learning flight mechanics and flight simulation.

For engineering professors, using this book will make teaching any senior or graduate level flight mechanics or flight simulation class easier for you and more enlightening for your students. Additionally, an amazing 592 page solutions manual is available from the publisher!

This book is a must buy and I predict that Mechanics of Flight by Warren F. Phillips will soon be recognized by the engineering community as the "bible" of sub-sonic flight mechanics.

Sure, Phillips is extremely clear, and cautious to keep us on track when deriving the equations. But what really sets this book apart is the clarity of its structure, which lets you find what you need, and know what to skip, most easily. I always know where I am heading when reading this book.

The treats are:

- A 25-page index, what a pleasure!

- Beautiful, clear figures (an element usually neglected by most)

- Real-world examples (think: can you go-around with one engine in a Tomcat?)

- A refresher in Aerodynamics in the first chapter.

This book is on the top 5 list of my aeronautical engineering collection. I wish every textbook was written this way.

If you are fascinated by Darrol Stinton's works of art, I think you will enjoy this one as much.

It is much more mathematically oriented than the above, be aware, but not as much as to become a geek treatise on flight. It still retains the aviator's view on flight and discusses in much detail the mechanics of it.

Maybe a stepping stone towards engineering but definitely useful to be a better pilot. You will find long pages on systems of partial differential equations and all, but the author had the foresight to include a detailed explanation of what he just found out with all those equations. He dissects the final formula for you and tells you exactly what that means for your flying. Superb.

If you are looking for a quick guide on how to fly better, look elsewhere. The market is literally flooded with books for the novice/intermediate pilot on what, when and how. As I already said, get this book if Stinton's work left you hungry for more.

When designing a one-off experimental aircraft, you should start with something like Raymer's 'Simplified Aircraft Design for Homebuilders', and then move on to his textbook or Darrol Stinton's equally informative texts. There are also other good 'general' design books, like Hiscock's 'Design of Light Aircraft' or Pazmany's "Light Airplane Design". Eventually, though, you'll need to move beyond simpler equations and rules of thumb into more detailed math. Unfortunately, most texts for this phase are either older, hard-to-find texts written in the days of prop planes (eg Perkins-Hage 'Stability and Control', still a must-have classic) or modern textbooks heavy in grad-level math and a focus on advanced-transport/supersonic fighter applications. 'Mechanics of Flight', on the other hand, is one of those few modern textbooks that are as useful for general aviation enthusiasts as for those aiming for a career at Boeing. Yes, there are chapters on turbojet engines and supersonic flow, and yes, you had better be comfortable with engineering mathematics (partial derivatives, matrix math, and the like). However, this author is clearly an engineer first and a mathematician second--he doesn't waste your time proving mathematical theorems, he instead shows the derivation of the math from the physical principles involved in flight. Even though my university engineering courses are a few decades behind me, I had no trouble following the math in this book.

For us general aviation folks, there's a wealth of material here. The math for finding exact aerodynamic center and section lift distribution on real wings with taper and twist, and the differences between the approximate solutions and CFD and windtunnel results. A large chapter on propeller theory, and another on detailed aircraft performance (range, thrust required, field length, etc.) The problem sets range from commercial transports to human-powered designs. Most of the rest of the book covers aircraft stability and control, with plenty of clear and descriptive text accompanying the equations. Important results are highlighted in bold face throughout the text. Chapter 10 is particularly valuable in it's coverage of aircraft handling qualities and control response, relating the stability derivatives calculated in earlier chapters to the more qualitative aspects of how the plane 'feels' to the pilot. As another reviewer mentioned, the book ends with a chapter on the equations used for aircraft flight simulation, which is an interesting read even if you don't intend to write your own simulator.

This is a good book. I am studying to be a Mechanical Engineer with an Aerospace emphasis. My professor for this class is the author of this book, Dr. Warren Phillips. I hear he is the best. The shipping of this book from Texas was without flaw. I am very pleased.