Flight Performance of Fixed and Rotary Wing Aircraft

Calculation and optimisation of flight performance is required to design or select new aircraft, efficiently operate existing aircraft, and upgrade aircraft. It provides critical data for aircraft certification, accident investigation, fleet management, flight regulations and safety.

This book presents an unrivalled range of advanced flight performance models for both transport and military aircraft, including the unconventional ends of the envelopes.

Topics covered include the numerical solution of supersonic acceleration, transient roll, optimal climb of propeller aircraft, propeller performance, long-range flight with en-route stop, fuel planning, zero-gravity flight in the atmosphere, VSTOL operations, ski jump from aircraft carrier, optimal flight paths at subsonic and supersonic speed, range-payload analysis of fixed- and rotary wing aircraft, performance of tandem helicopters, lower-bound noise estimation, sonic boom, and more.

This book will be a valuable text for undergraduate and post-graduate level students of aerospace engineering. It will also be an essential reference and resource for practicing aircraft engineers, aircraft operations managers and organizations handling air traffic control, flight and flying regulations, standards, safety, environment, and the complex financial aspects of flying aircraft.

· Unique coverage of fixed and rotary wing aircraft in a unified manner, including optimisation, emissions control and regulation.
· Ideal for students, aeronautical engineering capstone projects, and for widespread professional reference in the aerospace industry.
· Comprehensive coverage of computer-based solution of aerospace engineering problems; the critical analysis of performance data; and case studies from real world engineering experience.
· Supported by end of chapter exercises, an extensive Instructor's Manual and downloadable flight performance modelling code.

Introduction; The aircraft and its environment; Weight performance; Aerodynamic performance; Engine performance; Flight envelopes; Take-off and landing; Climb and gliding; Cruise performance; Maneuvre performance; Rotocraft performance; Rotorcraft in vertical flight; Rotorcraft in forward flight; Rotorcraft manoeuvre; Rotorcraft mission analysis; V/STOL performances; Noise performance; Appendices: Aircraft models, Noise data, Selected simulation programs