Flight mechanics - The basis

Flight mechanics - The basis

Course
en
English
7 h
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Source
  • From www.coursera.org
Conditions
  • Self-paced
  • Free Access
  • Free certificate
More info
  • 3 Sequences
  • Introductive Level

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Course details

Syllabus

WEEK 1: Anatomy of the plane
During this first week, we want you to get acquainted to the airplane. We will first learn how to name the different parts of the airplane and how to describe and quantify its geometry. And we will see through an exercise that concepts that seem well defined, like the surface of the wing (wing surface), can be, in practice, difficult to measure. This part will allow us to share a common and precise vocabulary.

WEEK 2: Vocabulary and Tools
We need now to share a precise vocabulary to describe the airplane's movement and attitude in space, and a refresher on basic general mechanics principles. You will review how Newton's second law allows you to determine what force must be applied on an apple - or on an airplane, to modify the magnitude and direction of its speed. Coming back on the concepts of kinetic energy and potential energy, you will discover the very useful concept of total height and you will be able to explain how an airplane can quickly exchange speed for altitude, while changes in total height are much slower. To conclude this week, we invite you on a tour of our full flight simulator Pegasus (Pegase in French), to see how clever use of those concepts in a Head-Up Display might allow you to conduct a perfect approach and landing without a single glance at your speed or altitude indicators.

WEEK 3: Basis of flight mechanics
It's time to apply your knowledge to the airplane! You will discover that only a very small number of forces apply on an airplane in flight and that you are able to classify those that change its energy state and those that modify its trajectory. You will discover the concept of load factor and understand why the pilot of a combat aircraft can feel a weight nine-time greater than his actual weight! You will come on board our DR400 light airplane (not a combat airplane indeed) with Newton's apple to better understand what this load factor actually means. Finally, you will establish the lift and propulsion equations, that form the basis of flight mechanics, and you will be able to compute the lift and thrust necessary to follow a given trajectory at a given speed. No apples were harmed in the making of this course.

Graded assessment for the course
In this final graded assessment, you will check your knowledge and apply it to solve an actual flight dynamic problem : how to fly a loop in a glider.

Prerequisite

None.

Instructors

Eric Poquillon
Lead flight test engineer
ISAE-SUPAERO

Editor

The ISAE-SUPAERO is a worldwide reference in aerospace higher education and research.

ISAE-SUPAERO provides high-level Graduate Programs in engineering, Master’s degrees, Advanced Masters, PhD degrees, with a wide range of career opportunities: engineering, research and development, logistics, consulting, finance, etc.

ISAE-SUPAERO also develops a very active research policy around four main principles:

to ensure a strong link between programs and research,
to set up an international center for hosting and training for Master’s degrees, Advanced Masters and PhD degrees,
to guarantee a proper balance between academic visibility and industrial aims proximity,
to promote innovation in the aerospace field.

Platform

Coursera is a digital company offering massive open online course founded by computer teachers Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller Stanford University, located in Mountain View, California. 

Coursera works with top universities and organizations to make some of their courses available online, and offers courses in many subjects, including: physics, engineering, humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, computer science, digital marketing, data science, and other subjects.

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