Basics of Flight Mechanics

Mach Waves, Mach Angles:

Figure 2-17

The Airplane as Rigid body:

The Airplane as Dynamic System:

Equilibrium conditions:

Sample Problems: Problem 1: If, during a take-off run an aeroplane starting from rest attains a velocity of 90 km/h in 10 seconds, what is the average acceleration? Sol: Initial velocity u = 0, Final velocity v = 90 km/h = 25 m/s Time t = 10 sec, a=? Since we are concerned with u, v, t and a, we use the formula v = u + at, 25 = 0 + l0a a = 25/10= 2.5 m/s2

Problem 2: How far will the aeroplane of the previous example have travelled during the take-off run? Sol: u = 0, v = 25m/s, t = 10sec, a = 2.5m/s2 Final velocity squared = Initial velocity squared + 2 x Acceleration x Distance s = ut + at2 = 0 + x 2.5 x l02 = 125 m or v2 = U2 + 2as 25 x 25 = 0 + 2 x 2.5 x s s = (25 x 25)/(2 x 2.5) s= 125 m

Problem 3: A bomb is dropped from an aeroplane which is in level flight at 200 knots at a height of 3500 m. Neglecting the effect of air resistance, how long will it be before the bomb strikes the ground, and how far horizontally before the target must the bomb be released? Sol: To find the time of fall we are concerned only with the vertical velocity, which was zero at release

Therefore the distance that the bomb will travel forward during the falling time of 27 seconds will be 103 x 27 = 2781 m.

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