Introduction to Flight Mechanics

Topics

• This course intends to introduce undergraduate engineering majors with an interest in aerospace engineering to analysis and design techniques of relevance to the flight and performance characteristics of aerospace vehicles in a self-contained manner and in anticipation of the engineering science coursework in the upper division. Simultaneously, the course intends to make tangible connections between the theory and relevant practical examples in aerospace engineering by means of the discussion of research facilities at NASA Ames (wind-tunnels and simulators), X-planes, relevant airliner accidents, launch and re-entry telemetry data, etc.
• Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: • Calculate lift and drag of a 2D airfoil and a 3D wing in subsonic and supersonic speed regimes • Calculate thrust and power required for level flight • Compute the range and endurance of propeller-driven as well as jet-powered aircraft • Compute the necessary runway length for takeoff and landing • Analyze aircraft trim conditions • Assess longitudinal balance and static stability of an aircraft • Find orbit parameters from the orbital geometry • Design a Hohmann orbit transfer and compute the total DV • Calculate peak deceleration and speed at touchdown in a re-entry path for ballistic as well as gliding flight. • Describe and discuss various design methodologies and their trade-offs.

Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes