Many textbooks are unable to step outside the classroom and connect with industrial practice, and most describe difficult-to-rationalize ad hoc derivations of the modal parameters. In contrast, Elementary Flight Dynamics with an Introduction to Bifurcation and Continuation Methods uses an optimal mix of physical insight and mathematical presentation to lead students to the heart of professional aircraft flight dynamics in a pleasant and informative manner. Presenting an updated version of the aerodynamic model with the corrected definition of the rate (dynamic) derivatives, the book is peppered with examples of real-life airplanes, real airplane data, and solved examples. It plunges directly into the core concepts of aircraft flight dynamics with minimal mathematical fuss. When the 6-degree-of-freedom equations are presented in the final chapter, the students are already familiar with most of the physical concepts and the math is easier to absorb. Aimed at junior and senior undergraduate students, this book covers recent developments in airplane flight dynamics and introduces bifurcation and continuation methods as a tool for flight dynamic analysis. Designed to help students make the transition from classroom calculations to the real-world of computational flight dynamics, it offers a practical perspective, enhanced by the inclusion of an open source computational tool.

Table of Contents:
Introduction What, Why and How? Aircraft as a Rigid Body Six Degrees of Freedom Position, Velocity and Angles Aircraft Motion in Wind Longitudinal Flight Dynamics Longitudinal Dynamics Equations A Question of Timescales Longitudinal Trim Aerodynamic Coefficients CD, CL, Cm Wing–Body Trim Stability Concept Linear First-Order System Linear Second-Order System Nonlinear Second-Order System Pitch Dynamics about Level Flight Trim Modelling Small-Perturbation Aerodynamics Pitch Dynamics about Level Flight Trim (Contd.) Short-Period Frequency and Damping Forced Response Response to Pitch Control Longitudinal Trim and Stability Wing–Body Trim and Stability Wing–Body Plus Tail: Physical Arguments Wing–Body Plus Tail: Math Model Role of Downwash Neutral Point Replacing VH with VH / Effect of CG Movement Rear CG Limit due to Airplane Loading and Configuration at Take-Off Cm, CL Curves—Non-Linearities Longitudinal Control All-Moving Tail Elevator Tail Lift with Elevator Airplane Lift Coefficient with Elevator Airplane Pitching Moment Coefficient with Elevator Elevator Influence on Trim and Stability Longitudinal Manoeuvres with the Elevator Most Forward CG Limit NP Determination from Flight Tests Effect of NP Shift with Mach Number Long-Period (Phugoid) Dynamics Phugoid Mode Equations Energy Phugoid Mode Physics Phugoid Small-Perturbation Equations Aerodynamic Modelling with Mach Number Phugoid Dynamics Phugoid Mode Frequency and Damping Accurate Short-Period and Phugoid Approximations Derivative CmMa Derivative Cmq1 in Pitching Motion Derivative Cmq1 in Phugoid Motion Flow Curvature Effects Lateral-Directional Motion Review Directional Disturbance Angles Directional versus Longitudinal Flight Lateral Disturbance Angles Lateral-Directional Rate Variables Small-Perturbation Lateral-Directional Equations Lateral-Directional Timescales Lateral-Directional Aerodynamic Derivatives Lateral-Directional Small-Perturbation Equations (Contd.)........ 202 Lateral-Directional Dynamics Modes Lateral-Directional Dynamic Modes Roll (Rate) Mode Roll Damping Derivative Clp2 Roll Control Aileron Control Derivative, Clδa Yaw due to Roll Control Aileron Input for a Bank Angle Dutch Roll Mode Directional Derivatives CYβ and Cnβ Lateral Derivative: Clβ Damping Derivatives: Cnr1 and Clr1 Rudder Control Spiral Mode Real-Life Airplane Data Computational Flight Dynamics Aircraft Equations of Motion Derivation of Aircraft Equations of Motion 3–2–1 Rule Derivation of Aircraft Equations of Motion (Contd.) Numerical Analysis of Aircraft Motions Standard Bifurcation Analysis Extended Bifurcation Analysis