AIRPLANE

PERFORMANCE
AND PROPULSION

PRESENTED BY MR. B.N. DUBE

LECTURER
 Content
• Introduction
• Equation of Motion
• Drag Polar
• Propulsion
 1. Introduction
Aircraft performance can be considered a
subset of the larger study of aircraft flight
mechanics, which includes the disciplines
of performance, stability and control, and
aeroelasticity.
 1. Introduction
An airplane in motion through the
atmosphere is responding to the "four
forces of flight, lift, drag, thrust, and weight.

Just how it responds to these four forces

determines how fast it flies, how high it can
go, how far it can fly, and so forth. These
are some of the elements of the study of
airplane performance.
 1. Introduction
Performance predictions and testing seek
to answer questions about an aircraft’s
capabilities, such as the following.
➢How fast can the aircraft fly?
➢How high can the aircraft fly?
➢How fast can the aircraft climb?
➢How manoeuvrable is the aircraft?

Answers to these and similar questions

constitute the study of airplane performance,
which is the subject of this chapter.
 1. Introduction
In this chapter, the airplane is considered a rigid body on
which four natural forces are exerted: lift, drag, propulsive
thrust, and weight. Concern is focused on the movement
of the airplane as it responds to these forces.
 2. Equations of Motion
To study the performance of an airplane, we must first
establish the fundamental equations that govern its
translational motion through air.
To derive the equations of motion, let us consider an aircraft
in flight inclined at an angle with the horizon.
2. Equations of Motion
 2. Equations of Motion
The aircraft is considered a rigid body on which four
forces are acting at the center of mass. These forces
are:
• Lift L acting perpendicular to the flight path
• Drag D acting parallel to the forward velocity
vector.
• Weight W =mg acting vertically downward
• Thrust T generally inclined at an angle αT to the
flight path
 2. Equations of Motion

The force diagram shown above is important. Study it carefully until

you feel comfortable with it.
 2. Equations of Motion

Applying Newton's law along the flight path gives

………………1
 2. Equations of Motion

Applying Newton's law perpendicular to the flight path gives

………………2
 2. Equations of Motion

Examining Fig. above, we see that the forces parallel to the flight path
(positive to the right, negative to the left) are

………………3

and the forces perpendicular to the flight path (positive upward and negative
downward) are

………………4
 2. Equations of Motion
Combining Eq. (1) with (3) and Eq. (2) with (4)
yields

The above equations are the equations of

motion for an airplane in translational flight