Mechanics of Flight is a unique combination of theory and applications organized in a logical presentation. This book provides extensive coverage of individual topics within flight mechanics, including overviews of aerodynamics and propulsion. This complete instructional reference offers a full range of modern and classical techniques for applying fundamental principles to the solution of engineering problems in fight mechanics.

Mechanics of Flight explores the basic principles of flight mechanics with the help of many worked examples, starting with simple problems involving steady-level flight and building to more complex ones such as the analysis of turning flight and spins. Special coverage found here–and not in most books on the subject–includes a detailed presentation of the quaternion formulation for six-degree-of-freedom flight simulation, including treatment of efficient numerical integration methods. Students and practicing engineers who are familiar with the principles of static stability and control can begin the study of flight dynamics in Chapter 7, starting with a review of coordinate systems and notation as well as a development of the more general rigid-body equations of motion.

Mechanics of Flight is an essential volume for mechanical and aerospace engineering students and a valuable reference for practicing engineers in the aerospace industry.