Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons^™

Flight Dynamics: Flying Qualities Of Handling Factors Are Engineered Into The Aircraft Design, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

Flight dynamics is an aerospace engineering discupline that addresses aircraft stability and controllability. It is also mathematically very intensive and is traditionally the most difficult in the pilot training curriculum. Ultimately, it does not matter how good steady-state performance of an aircraft design is if its flying (handling) qualities are deficient. Paradoxically, the first airplane Wright Flyer, was statically and dynamically unstable, had large control authority, and was difficult to fly. We've come a long way since those early days, but stability is still vitally important in aircraft design and flight ops. The focus of this article will be airplane …