Assam Engineering College

Aircraft Characteristics
Lecture-2

Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II 1

Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

• Engine type and propulsion

• Size of aircraft
• Minimum turning radius
• Minimum circling radius
• Weight of the aircraft
• Wheel configuration
• Speed
• Capacity
• Noise
• Jet blast
• Fuel spillage

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
 Assam Engineering College
Aircraft characteristics

Engine type and propulsion

Propulsion may be through any type
of engine
Piston engine and
Jet engine (turbo engine, jet
propulsion, ram jet, rocket
engine)
These may provide speed as high as
500kmph, 800kph, 1280-
2400kmph, 4600kmph
respectively

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
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 Assam Engineering College
Aircraft characteristics

Size of aircraft
This is defined using basic parameters like
• Fuselage length ( from nose to tail)
• Gear tread (distance between main
gears)
• Height (tail)
• Tail width
• Wheel base (distance between nose
gear and main gear)
• Wing span (near main gear)

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Airport characteristics Assam Engineering College

Minimum turning radius

While taking a turn , the nose gear is steered and therefore makes an angle with the axis of main
gear called angle of rotation. The point of intersection of axis of main gear and line through the
axis of steered nose gear is called point of rotation.
The maximum angle of rotation is 50 -60
The line joining the centre of rotation and tip of the farthest wing of the aircraft is known as
minimum turning radius.

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Airport characteristics Assam Engineering College

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

Minimum circling radius

This is the minimum radius in space required for the aircraft to take a smooth turn.
It depends upon
Type of aircraft
Air traffic volume and weather condition

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

Speed

Air speed
Speed of aircraft relative to the medium (air)
Indicated speed- indicated by the instrument on board
Which is around 2 percent lower than the true speed

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

Noise

Noise is the big problem in the areas where airports are quite near to the developed areas
Major choices of noise are
• Engine
• Machinery (landing)
• Jet blast (take off)
Disturbance is more severe during take off than landing

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
Aircraft characteristics Assam Engineering College

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Rupjyoti Bordoloi Airport Engineering-Transportation Engineering-II
1. Lift is the force that holds an airplane in
the air. The wings create most of the lift due
to the wing’s special shape and how air flows
over the wing. The slower air moving under
the wing creates a higher pressure which
helps push the wing up.

2. Gravity is the force that pulls everything

toward the ground. This “pulling
down force” is what causes something
to have weight that can be measured on
a scale.
3. Thrust is a force that moves an object in
the direction of the motion. It can be
created with a propeller, jet engine, or
rocket. With a propeller or jet engine,
air is pulled in and then pushed out in an
opposite direction. Throwing an object
creates thrust, as well.

4.Drag is the force that acts opposite to

the direction of motion. Drag, caused
by air resistance, slows an airplane

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