Introduction to Aircraft Flight Dynamics (Aiaa Education Series)

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.