Institute of Space Date: 4 Jan 2021

Technology Flight Dynamics

Course:
and Stability
Final Exam Batch: Aero 17

Max Time Allowed: 3 Hours Max Marks: 100

Instructions:
• Attempt all questions. For full credit, write dimensions in the answers.
• Maintain Academic Integrity.

1. [CLO-1] Consider a general aviation airplane with an aft tail. The airplane
has a gross weight of 2,700 Ibf. The wing and horizontal tail have the following
properties: (20)

Wing: 𝑆 = 180 𝑓𝑡 2 , 𝑏 = 33 𝑓𝑡, 𝐶𝐿𝛼 = 4.44 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑑, 𝛼0𝐿 = −2.20 ,

𝐶𝑚𝑎𝑐 = −0.053
Tail: 𝑆 = 36 𝑓𝑡 2 , 𝑏 = 12 𝑓𝑡, 𝐶𝐿𝛼 = 3.97 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑑, 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 = −0.55,
𝑙𝑡 − 𝑙𝑤 = 15 𝑓𝑡 , 𝑙𝑤 = 𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑤 − 𝑥𝑐𝑔

The horizontal tail has a symmetric airfoil section when the elevator is not
deflected. The aerodynamic centers of the wing and the tail both fall on the
fuselage reference line, which is the minimum drag axis of the fuselage. The
wing and the tail are mounted so that when the airplane is in level flight with
an airspeed of 120 mph at standard sea level, trim is attained with no elevator
deflection, no lift on the horizontal tail, and a zero angle of attack for the
fuselage reference line. Neglecting any moments associated with propulsion
and the fuselage, determine the location of the center of gravity w.r.t.
aerodynamic center of the wing, the mounting angles for the wing and the
tail, and the pitch stability derivative for this wing-tail combination.
Assume a tail efficiency of 1.0 and a downwash angle at the location of the tail
given by the relation:
𝐶𝐿
𝜀 = 0.6 𝑤
𝐴𝑅𝑤

2. [CLO-2] An aircraft has the following directional stability and control

characteristics: (12)

𝐶𝑙0 =0 𝐶𝑙𝛽 = −0.0024/deg 𝐶𝑙𝛿𝑎 = 0.0008/deg 𝐶𝑙𝛿𝑟 = 0.00/deg

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 Institute of Space Date: 4 Jan 2021
Technology Flight Dynamics
Course:
and Stability
Final Exam Batch: Aero 17

𝐶𝑛0 = 0 𝐶𝑛𝛽 = 0.0035/deg 𝐶𝑛𝛿𝑎 = 0.00/deg 𝐶𝑛𝛿𝑟 = −0.003/deg

𝛿𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ±30 𝑑𝑒𝑔, 𝛿𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ±30 𝑑𝑒𝑔

a. Given the following conditions:

If the landing speed is 1.2 Vstall and we keep fuselage aligned with the
runway, determine the max crosswind component that can be
handled by the ailerons.
b. Determine the aileron deflection to maintain a sideslip of 𝛽 = 4 deg.
c. Which control system, ailerons or rudder, will limit the crosswind
component for the aircraft?

3. Answer the following:

a. A 30000 kg aircraft has the following Euler angles and Euler rates at a
certain point in time: (8)

𝜑 = 10 𝑑𝑒𝑔 𝜑̇ = 5 𝑑𝑒𝑔/𝑠
𝜃 = 5 𝑑𝑒𝑔 𝜃̇ = 1 𝑑𝑒𝑔/𝑠
𝜓 = 30 𝑑𝑒𝑔 𝜓̇ = 0 𝑑𝑒𝑔/𝑠

The velocity vector of the aircraft is given by:

𝑉 = 100𝑖𝐵 + 10𝑗𝐵 + 5𝑘𝐵 m/s.
1) Find the components of the velocity 𝑉 in terms of 𝑖𝐸 , 𝑗𝐸 and 𝑘𝐸 .
2) Find the values of 𝛼 and 𝛽 using exact formulae.
3) Find the values of 𝑝, 𝑞 and 𝑟 at this instant.
4) Write the weight vector of the aircraft in terms of 𝑖𝐵 , 𝑗𝐵 and 𝑘𝐵 .
Note: 𝑖, 𝑗 and 𝑘 are unit vectors. Subscripts 𝐵 and 𝐸 refer to body axis
and inertial axis frames of reference.

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 Institute of Space Date: 4 Jan 2021
Technology Flight Dynamics
Course:
and Stability
Final Exam Batch: Aero 17

b. In the following diagram, express the forces 𝑿, 𝒀, 𝒁 in terms of the

aerodynamic forces, 𝐿 and 𝐷, and thrust, 𝑇, in the stability axes
system. (7)

Note: In the diagram, reference body axis system is shown.

4. [CLO-3]
a. Linearize the following non-linear equation of motion about the
reference flight condition of straight and level flight in the stability
axis system: (6)
𝑍 + 𝑚𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜑 = 𝑚(𝑤̇ + 𝑝𝑣 − 𝑞𝑢)
Show all steps.
b. Show that: (4)
2
𝑄𝑆𝑏
𝑳𝒓 = 𝑪
2𝐼𝑥 𝑢0 𝒍𝒓

5. The rolling motion of an aircraft may be expressed, using the single

degree of freedom approximation, by a first order differential equation,
namely: (8)
2
𝑄𝑏 𝑆
𝐼𝑥𝑥 𝑝̇ = (𝐶𝐿𝑃 )𝑝 + 𝑄𝑆𝑏(𝐶𝛿𝐴 )𝛿𝐴
2𝑢0
where 𝑝 denotes roll rate, 𝑆 the surface area of the wing, 𝑏 its span, 𝑄 the
dynamic pressure and 𝐼𝑥𝑥 the rolling moment of inertia, 𝛿𝐴 the aileron
deflection, and 𝑢0 the equilibrium flight speed.

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 Institute of Space Date: 4 Jan 2021
Technology Flight Dynamics
Course:
and Stability
Final Exam Batch: Aero 17

𝐶𝐿𝑥 represents the non-dimensional stability derivative corresponding to

a variable, 𝑥. For a business jet aircraft the following data apply:
𝑆 = 21.55 𝑚2 𝐶𝐿𝑝 = −0.385

𝑏 = 10.424 𝑚 𝐶𝛿𝐴 = 0.15

𝜌 = 1.225 𝑘𝑔 𝑚−3 𝑢0 = 112 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑠
𝐼𝑥𝑥 = 14,500 𝑘𝑔𝑚−2 (𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑖𝑝 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠)
𝐼𝑥𝑥 = 40,670 𝑘𝑔𝑚−2 (𝐹𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑖𝑝 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠)
a. If the maximum deflection of the ailerons is ±28.65°, calculate the
maximum roll rate which can be achieved when the wing tip fuel
tanks are
1) Empty
2) Full
b. Determine the aileron deflection required to achieve a steady roll
rate of +40° 𝑠 −1 when the wing tip tanks are full.
c. Calculate the response in roll rate to a step deflection of the ailerons
of −10° for the case of empty wing tip tanks.

6. For the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, the data were obtained from Teper
(1969) and describes a sea level flight condition. The dimensional aerodynamic
stability and control derivatives were substituted in the longitudinal linearized
equations. After taking Laplace transform and simplifying, the following
resulted: (15)
746𝑠 + 26.26 −79.82 24021.2 𝑢 (𝑠 ) 0
[ 159.64 746𝑠 + 328.24 −227530𝑠 ] [𝑤 (𝑠)] = [ −16502 ] 𝛿𝑒 (𝑠)
2
0 36.4 + 1014 65000𝑠 + 18135𝑠 𝜃(𝑠) −303575

a. Obtain the transfer function describing pitch attitude response to

elevator.
b. What are the natural frequencies and damping of the longitudinal
modes.
c. Show the pitch attitude response of the F-I04 to a 10 step of elevator.
Identify the modes on the graph. (You may use MATLAB for this
part.)

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 Institute of Space Date: 4 Jan 2021
Technology Flight Dynamics
Course:
and Stability
Final Exam Batch: Aero 17

7. [CLO-4] An A-4D aircraft having a total weight of 17578 lb is cruising at

Mach 0.8 at an altitude of 35000 ft. All the systems of the aircraft are
operational. (20)
a. What is the class, phase of flight and level of the aircraft.
b. Find the eigenvalues and show their approximate position on a
graph, identifying the different modes. (You may use MATLAB for
this purpose.)
c. State whether the airplane is directionally/laterally stable, or not.
d. Find the time constant, natural frequency, damped frequency,
damping ratio and number of cycles to damp to half-amplitude for
each mode, as applicable.
e. Considering the criteria given in MIL-F-8785, write for each mode the
Level of flying qualities.
Note: See Appendix B of Nelson’s book for mass, geometric and aerodynamic
properties of the aircraft.

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