FLIGHT DYNAMICS AND CONTROL

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: ( E M A 421 or 521 prior to Fall 2026), ( E M A 442 or 542 prior to Fall 2026), and M E 340 , or graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Determine the static and dynamic stability characteristics of an aircraft based on its geometrical and inertial properties Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Use the formalism of control theory to describe an aircraft’s open-loop and closed- loop control schemes Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Utilize common engineering analysis software to describe an aircraft’s response to basic control inputs Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Determine aerodynamic characteristics of an aircraft from flight simulator data Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Fly basic aircraft maneuvers in order to characterize an aircraft’s equation of motion Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Use advanced concepts in controls and aircraft dynamics theory to predict aircraft motion Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Determine the static and dynamic stability characteristics of an aircraft based on its geometrical and inertial properties Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Use the formalism of control theory to describe an aircraft’s open-loop and closed- loop control schemes Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Utilize common engineering analysis software to describe an aircraft’s response to basic control inputs Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Determine aerodynamic characteristics of an aircraft from flight simulator data Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Fly basic aircraft maneuvers in order to characterize an aircraft’s equation of motion Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Use advanced concepts in controls and aircraft dynamics theory to predict aircraft motion Audience: Graduate