Stability And Control Of Airplanes And Helicopters

Stability and Control of Airplanes and Helicopters deals with aircraft flying qualities that determine the stability and control of airplanes and helicopters. It includes problems based on real aircraft, selected to represent the gamut from simple to complicated, and from conventional utility designs to futuristic research types. Many of these problems involve comparison of theory and experiment to demonstrate their mutual relationship. Comprised of 25 chapters, this book begins with a discussion on the aerodynamics of the component parts related to the lift and moment characteristics of an airplane, including wings and associated accessories; bodies such as fuselages, nacelles, and tip tanks; and control surfaces. The reader is then introduced to some mathematical techniques for linear differential equations; steady flight at different speeds; and stick force and control-free stability. Subsequent chapters focus on flaps and high-lift devices; power and compressibility effects; and the manner in which the aircraft responds to the application of control. Aeroelasticity and longitudinal equations of motion are also examined. This monograph is intended for undergraduate and graduate students taking modern engineering courses.

The Book The behaviour of helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft is so complex that understanding the physical mechanisms at work in trim, stability and response, and thus the prediction of Flying Qualities, requires a framework of analytical and numerical modelling and simulation. Good Flying Qualities are vital for ensuring that mission performance is achievable with safety and, in the first and second editions of Helicopter Flight Dynamics, a comprehensive treatment of design criteria was presented, relating to both normal and degraded Flying Qualities. Fully embracing the consequences of Degraded Flying Qualities during the design phase will contribute positively to safety. In this third edition, two new Chapters are included. Chapter 9 takes the reader on a journey from the origins of the story of Flying Qualities, tracing key contributions to the developing maturity and to the current position. Chapter 10 provides a comprehensive treatment of the Flight Dynamics of tiltrotor aircraft; informed by research activities and the limited data on operational aircraft. Many of the unique behavioural characteristics of tiltrotors are revealed for the first time in this book. The accurate prediction and assessment of Flying Qualities draws on the modelling and simulation discipline on the one hand and testing practice on the other. Checking predictions in flight requires clearly defined mission tasks, derived from realistic performance requirements. High fidelity simulations also form the basis for the design of stability and control augmentation systems, essential for conferring Level 1 Flying Qualities. The integrated description of flight dynamic modelling, simulation and flying qualities of rotorcraft forms the subject of this book, which will be of interest to engineers practising and honing their skills in research laboratories, academia and manufacturing industries, test pilots and flight test engineers, and as a reference for graduate and postgraduate students in aerospace engineering.

The hover analysis considers pilot attitude and position control tasks in the presence of horizontal gusts. The effects of each of the stability derivatives on the difficulty of the control tasks and on the closed-loop gust responses are determined. It is clearly shown that the handling qualities studies of control sensitivity and angular damping must consider the influences of M sub u (or L sub v) and should include gust inputs. These conclusions are substantiated by previous variable-stability-helicopter experiments. The effects of vehicle size and geometry are investigated by several approaches. The key result of increasing size is found to be a reduction in M sub u and L sub v which can, in turn, lower the requirements for control power and damping. The handling qualities during transition of two vehicles, a tilt duct and a tilt wing, which were previously tested on a simulator are analyzed. It is shown that both trim control and perturbations about the trim conditions must be considered. In fact, part of the increased difficulty in landing transitions, in comparison with takeoff transitions, is due to more difficult trim control; the much more stringent position control requirements in landing are also a contributing factor.

This edition of this this flight stability and controls guide features an unintimidating math level, full coverage of terminology, and expanded discussions of classical to modern control theory and autopilot designs. Extensive examples, problems, and historical notes, make this concise book a vital addition to the engineer's library.

Flightwise 2 covers the concepts and definitions of stability, it also includes an overview of flight control followed by explanations of horizontal and vertical turns, pilot interface and concludes with the Control Configured Vehicle.