Definitions

Chapter 2

Flat earth model: The earth is assumed to be flat with a uniform and
parallel gravitational field.

Plane of symmetry: Airplanes usually have a plane of symmetry be-

tween the right and left halves. The plane of symmetry is the xb zb plane.

Ground axes system: A coordinate system fixed to the surface of the

earth at mean sea level. The xz-plane is the vertical plane. For airplane
motion the ground axes is an approximate inertial reference frame.

Local horizon axes system: A coordinate system whose origin is fixed to

the center of gravity of the airplane and whose axes are parallel to the
ground axes.

Wind axes system: A coordinate system whose origin is fixed to the

center of gravity and whose x-axis is along the velocity vector.

Body axes system: A coordinate system whose origin is fixed to the

center of gravity and whose axes are fixed to the airplane.

Altitude: The height h of the airplane cg above mean sea level.

Velocity: The velocity V is the velocity of the airplane relative to the

atmosphere. If the atmosphere is at rest relative to the ground, it is the
velocity relative to the ground axes system.

Flight path angle: The angle γ between the wind x-axis and the lo-
cal horizon x-axis.

Angle of attack: The angle α between the body x-axis and the wind
x-axis.

Inertial position: Position of the airplane relative to the ground axes

system.

Inertial velocity: Velocity of the airplane relative to the ground axes

system.

Kinematic equations: Equations which arise from the definition of ve-

locity. They relate the position of the cg to velocity components.

Inertial acceleration: Acceleration of the airplane relative to the ground

axes system.

Thrust: The concentrated force T acting on the airplane due to the

pressure and velocity distributions over the inlet and outlet of the en-
gine.

Aerodynamic force: The concentrated force A acting on the airplane

due to the pressure and skin friction distributed over the surface of the
airplane.

Weight: The concentrated force W acting on the airplane due to the

distribution of the weight over the airplane. It acts at the center of
gravity.

Drag: The component of the aerodynamic force parallel to the veloc-

ity vector.

Lift: The component of the aerodynamic force perpendicular to the

velocity vector.

Thrust angle of attack: The angle ε between the thrust vector and the
velocity vector.

Dynamic equations: Equations which arise from the definition of the

inertial acceleration and the application of Newton’s second law. They
relate the velocity of the airplane to the forces acting on the airplane.

Specific fuel consumption: The ratio of the weight flow rate of fuel to
the thrust.

Weight equation: It relates the weight of the airplane to the operat-

ing conditions of the engine (thrust and specific fuel consumption).

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Power setting: In a jet engine, the power setting P is the ratio of the
rpm of the engine to the maximum rpm.

State variables: Variables in the equations of motion which are differen-

tiated.

Control variables: Variables in the equations of motion which are not

differentiated.

Mathematical degrees of freedom: The difference of the number of vari-

ables and the number of equations (mdof = #var - #eqs).

Quasi-steady flight: Flight characterized by negligible accelerations, small

flight path angle, small thrust angle of attack, and negligible component
of the thrust normal to the velocity vector.

Trajectory optimization: Finding the velocity profile that minimizes or

maximizes some performance index, for example, cruise distance or climb
time.

Velocity yaw; The proper name for the heading angle (ψ).

Velocity pitch: The proper name for the flight path angle (γ).

Velocity roll: The proper name for the bank angle (µ).

Spherical earth model: The earth is a solid sphere whose acceleration of

gravity obeys the inverse-square law.

Inverse-square gravitational law: The acceleration of gravity is inversely

proportional to the distance from the center of the earth.

Binomial expansion: The Taylor series expansion for a power law ex-
pression.

Satellite speed: The speed of a satellite at the surface of the earth.