What is Aircraft: Definition and 349 Discussions

An aircraft is a vehicle or machine that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines. Common examples of aircraft include airplanes, helicopters, airships (including blimps), gliders, paramotors, and hot air balloons.The human activity that surrounds aircraft is called aviation. The science of aviation, including designing and building aircraft, is called aeronautics. Crewed aircraft are flown by an onboard pilot, but unmanned aerial vehicles may be remotely controlled or self-controlled by onboard computers. Aircraft may be classified by different criteria, such as lift type, aircraft propulsion, usage and others.

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  1. ChimM

    Calculating induced drag on Tapered Wing

    Homework Statement When Cl = 0.9, find the difference in induced drag for a rectangular wing of 36-ft. span and 6-ft. chord and a tapered wing of the same area, the tapered wing having a 6-ft. chord at the root, the leading and trailing edges being tangent to a circle of 2-ft. radius at the...
  2. B. Elliott

    Identifying Unknown Aircraft Model Found by Family Member

    I found this model among a few that a family member used to have, but I can't seem to find out exactly what it is. It looks like some type of ramjet UAV from the late 60's or 70's. Any ideas?
  3. P

    Aircraft lift - is it all Bernoulli's principle?

    I find it hard to believe that the only factor important in computing aircraft lift is Bernoulli's principle. Doesn't good old Newton's Second Law play an effect? In other words simply deflecting the airflow downwards. Does anyone know the relative importance of these factors? (EG for a...
  4. R

    Problems faced in passenger aircraft

    Hey Guys, Me and my friends are planning to work on a project to solve some real time problem associated with passenger aircrafts.i would like you guys to suggest some problems faced by the industry so that we can solve them.Since i'am an mechanical engineer it would be better if the problem...
  5. LaReina

    Aircraft Performance Question -- Berguet

    Homework Statement What cruise velocity should the aircraft fly to maximize the cruise range? Aircraft mass (excluding fuel), m0= 14000kg Mass of fuel, mf = 2500kg Specific fuel consumption of aircraft engine, sfc = 2.8\times10-5 kg/N/s Drag polar, CD = 0.02+0.08CL^2 Planform area of...
  6. D

    Understanding Lift Force and the Bernoulli Equation in Small Aircraft

    Homework Statement See attachment Homework Equations Maybe lift force = ClρAv2 A=area Cl= lift coefficient= 0.3 ρ= air density V=air speed but don't know which one it represents... Under or below wing or average? And the bernoulli equation seems to be needed as well... The Attempt at a...
  7. A

    The effect of aerofoil shape on rubber powered model aircraft

    Model aircraft display a wide range of aerofoil shapes, and many of these models fly despite the shape of the cross section of the wing. Models with flat wings, cambered wings, thick wings, thin wings - all of these fly succesfully. What is the function of aerofoil shape on free flight...
  8. S

    How Much Heat Does Commercial Aircraft APU Produce?

    how much heat roughly does commercial aircraft APU produce? I'm interested in an average and maximum range. Any experts?
  9. P

    Software for calculating aircraft aerodynamic coefficients

    Hi, I want a software that can generate aerodynamic coefficients (CD, CL, CY,Cl,Cm,Cn, etc) I am aware of some specialized software (e.g. AVL, open source from MIT, LinAir Pro, commercial, etc). But was wondering whether I can use 'common' software like AutoCAD Mechanical or Solidworks...
  10. S

    Aircraft: velocity + altitude measurement; simply or not?

    Hi! I'm breaking my head about the following problem: Consider an A/C at a certain velocity flying at a certain altitude. The A/C measures it's speed via the difference in total- and static-pressure and applying bernoulli. Now the aircraft accelerates. What happens? At this point I get...
  11. A

    Aircraft engine specifications

    Hello, I'm doing a full stress analysis on a complete aircraft engine. so i was looking for documents with full specifications of the engine ( blueprints,charts,data tables, ...etc. ) . I know that most of these information are top secret whether it's a civil engine a military engine. However...
  12. C

    Engineering BS Aerospace Engineering or BS Aircraft Maintenance Technology?

    Hi, since I don't have money, I didn't include BS Air Transportation in my choices. My friend and I are really confused. We are now already in college and currently taking aerospace engineering. However, it is so hard but I think we can make it (we haven't failed so far) but the problem is the...
  13. N

    Wind velocity and aircraft (answer check)

    Homework Statement You’re a pilot beginning a 1500-km flight. Your plane’s speed is 1000 km/h, and air traffic control says you’ll have to head 15° west of south to maintain a southward course. If the flight takes 100 min, what’s the wind velocity?The Attempt at a Solution veffective south =...
  14. M

    Problem from Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students - 5ed

    Hello to all , I need your help again , if you can . My question is about a problem / exercise book solved Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students - 5ed , example 20.4 . So the problem this section supports a vertical load of 10kN and the objective is to calculate the flow section...
  15. E

    Nonlinear dynamic modelling of A380 aircraft

    Hi there, I am currently a student at Heriot-Watt University and have been given a project of deriving a nonlinear equation of motion for an a380 wing engine. The engine is to be considered as a lumped mass attached to the cantilever beam and the main fuselage is considered having translational...
  16. E

    Topics combining Mathematics and Aircraft

    Hello, I'm new to this forum so please bear with me! I am a Math and Mechanical Engineering Double major who is considering getting my PhD in Math. I want to become a Math professor after I receive my PhD, and I have always had a love of airplanes, so I was wondering if there are any topics I...
  17. M

    Aircraft Certification (Static Electricity Dischargers)

    The little wicks placed at the wingtips to get rid of static electricity on the wings and body of the aircraft are vital to aircraft. I am interested in what the certification requirements for placing these ont he wings. I assue the formula of would include things like 1-surface area 2-speed...
  18. S

    Choosing the Right Turboprop Engine for Light Aircraft

    Hi, I'm a third year student studying mechanical engineering under going a third year dissertation. My individual project consists of designing a light aircraft, however I have ran into a few issues. I want to import a turboprop engines for my 4 person light aircraft. Following that I am...
  19. A

    Aircraft landing impact & tires forces analysis

    how is the smartest, can do the analysis? Ok when the Airplane touch the runway. the rear wheels touch first, in part of second, the rear tires skidding and then start to spin up. I need to analysis the forces to find: friction torque, skidding, slip ratio,... you can use any data or just...
  20. M

    Aircraft runway question - Acceleration, Time and Final Velocity

    Question: An aircraft of total mass 1.5 x 10^5kg accelerates at maximum thrust, from rest along a runway for 25s reaching the required take off speed of 65 ms^-1. Assume that the acceleration of the aircraft is constant. Calculate the distance traveled in this time. My attempt: I...
  21. B

    How much energy is used for lift and for thrust in various aircraft?

    Can somebody post a table of the average lift energy/thrust energy ratios or percentages of various types of aircraft?
  22. davenn

    NASA Why Is NASA's SOFIA Aircraft in New Zealand?

    hi all just got back from a trip to New Zealand. Whilst at Christchurch City Airport, I was pleased to snap a few pics of the NASA SOFIA ( Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ) aircraft that is down in this part of the world to do southern hemisphere astronomy...
  23. R

    Alternative electricity generation for aircraft

    Hello, so today i was thinking about alternative ways to provide electricity to a motor in a fixed wing aircraft. Ideas: 1. Use thermoelectrics. They would generate the most voltage around the engine, so maybe they would only be placed here, or all over the aircraft. Advantage: unlike solar...
  24. mheslep

    Notional passenger electric aircraft from EADS: Ceiling?

    EADS had a pseudo model of an electric passenger aircraft at the Paris airshow. Apparently they like a hybrid approach: six electric motor driven ducted fans, a battery, and a single traditional jet turbine that assists on take off and generates electric power for the fans/battery. I'm curious...
  25. S

    Propeller Driven Aircraft with Thrust to Weight Ratio Greater than One

    Hello all, this is my first post. I was wondering if any of you could point me in the direction of a source with details on propeller aircraft able to produce a T / W Ratio greater than one. Thank You!
  26. A

    The Future of Air Travel: A Survey on Pilotless Planes and Passenger Perceptions

    I am working on a project and more precisely about aeronautics in 2040, can you please provide me with your feedback on this survey: 0. Age : [20-30] / [30-40] / [40-50] / [50-60] / [ 60 ...] 1. Do you fear taking a plane? Yes/ No 2. How often do you take an airplane per year ( 2 way...
  27. S

    Static Stability of Aircraft designed in X Plane

    HI Everyone. First of all, I'm not an aeronautical or mechanical engineer. I'm an electronics engineer but I'm currently doing a group project where I'm required to carry out a stability analysis on an aircraft that we've designed using the simulator software, X Plane. I apologise in...
  28. E

    Where can i find Aircraft Flight Data?

    Hi all i am a student doing my thesis on the aircraft performance. However, i am in a need of actual flight data to validate my work. The parameters i am looking at are the range, fuel usage, velocity and altitude. Does anyone know where can i access to those data of any flights or any types...
  29. jegues

    Probability Density Function: Aircraft Detection

    Homework Statement See figure attached. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I'm having trouble getting start with this one, but here's what I've got so far. I assumed R is the signal received by the TDS. P(R=X) = \mu \quad , \quad P(R=N) = 1 - \mu Now in part...
  30. Z

    How to Calculate the Volume of an Aircraft Wing?

    How do u calculate the volume of an aircraft wing? Would it work if I calculate the area of tip and root chord then times it by the span? Thanks
  31. W

    Preliminary Design Analysis of Landing Struts for a Light Aircraft, Please help

    Homework Statement Hey, I'm struggling beyond belief with this assignment, one of the attached pdf's is the question and the variables given. What I'm struggling with most is what order I'm meant to do things in, I think I've got the start of it sussed but beyond that I'm clueless I've got...
  32. E

    Is the Breguet Range Equation Enough to Determine Aircraft Range?

    hi all, Im currently a aerospace engineering and I have some questions that I have been wondered about the range equation. I just studied about the breguet range equation (R=v/sfc L/D ln(wi/wf)). The equation is pretty simple within many assumptions such as constant speed constant L/D...
  33. L

    Kinetics friction question: derive acceleration of aircraft

    1. Hello there, I am a first year undergraduate mechanical engineering student, looking for help on a question. "Figure Q2 shoes a schematic diagram for an aircraft catapult system. The aircraft is represented by the mass A (Ma), and μ is the coefficient of friction between the aircraft and...
  34. Y

    Principles of Flight - Heavy aircraft vs Light aircraft

    Hey guys, I'm no physicist so thought I'd ask the experts! A friend asked a question which got me thinking... Question was: why do heavier aircraft take longer to slow down than lighter aircraft? It may help if you have knowledge of the principles of flight but I was struggling to come up...
  35. S

    System for use in case of emergency in aircraft.

    l have heard of auto pilot option in flying aircraft. do we have similarly the concept of takeover by the machine with/without the consent of pilot in case pilot cannot answer to safely land the air craft.
  36. S

    Quantum transistors in aircraft aileron control systems

    hello all, i need some help on this one. i want to do an article about the posible aplications of quantum entanglement in aircraft flight control systems. i want to entangle two transistors, put one of them at the ACE - actuator control electronics (probably) in the pilot's cabin and the other...
  37. A

    Calculating Aircraft Range and Endurance Using De Breguet Formula

    Hey there everyone, long time lurker but first time poster, with a question. I've been studying for an upcoming exam and I came across this question in my textbook and I'm absolutely stumped. Any advice would be much appreciated. An aircraft has a weight of 90,500 N, an aspect ratio of 5.5, a...
  38. C

    Finding Detailed Drawings of an Aircraft Landing Gear for Catia

    I have to do optimization of a landing gear of an aircraft but can not find anywhere sketches of the landing gear. Can anyone tell me where I can find these drawings? I must be detailed drawings to build the landing gear in Catia.
  39. T

    Formula for Aircraft Propeller Thrust

    I'm trying to understand thrust for a real world application. I found this formula: T= pi / 4 x D(squared) x (v+V1/2) x p x V1 Where: T thrust [N] D propeller diameter [m] v velocity of incoming flow [m/s] V1 additional velocity, acceleration by propeller [m/s] P density of...
  40. S

    Aerospace engineering or Aircraft maintenance for MSc

    Hello guys I'm studying electronics engineering in Bahrain and graduating by the end of the year. I am thinking of taking Aerospace engineering or Aircraft Maintenance Engineering for my Masters degree. ( Is it possible? ) I want your opinion on both subjects and which is better to go...
  41. G

    Frame for lighter-than-air aircraft.

    Hello everyone. I have been trying to think of some practical and cheap airship designs. I have done some calculating, and if you were to have an airship's envelope in a cylindrical shape that is 300' long and 75' in diameter, it would be able to lift approximately around 45 tons if filled with...
  42. D

    Aircraft engine horsepower display

    I am trying to design an on-board horsepower display for an experimental aircraft. The parameters that determine engine power are RPM, manifold pressure, altitude, temperature and mixture. Each of these parameters is currently monitored and displayed individually in the airplane and the...
  43. W

    Formula for sink rate for aircraft landing?

    Hello, my first post here. I'm an avid flight sim enthusiast. I wanted to ask what is the formula for calculation of sink rate for aircrafts? I know 4 forces act on the airframe: lift drag gravity thrust sink rate is the amount of distance/time the aircraft sinks from final...
  44. A

    Calculating Aircraft Lift Capacity: Understanding the Equation

    This is a simple question hopefully. The equation for determining lift produced by an aircraft is the following if I am correct: L = (1/2) d v2 s CL If I was designing an aircraft that would maintain flight at standard air pressure at 1000 feet .002308 ISA at 130 MPH with a wing area of...
  45. C

    Can dimpled fuselages reduce drag on aircraft?

    First off, I'm not an engineer. I'm only in high school so this may sound like a stupid question to some. But, I watched this episode of mythbusters where they tested the gas mileage on a standard car, and one with golf ball-like dimples all over it, and there was a significant difference...
  46. M

    Vertical tandem balloon aircraft

    I find hot air balloons and zeppelins fascinating since they can carry significant weight. I watched a mythbuster episode in which they busted the myth that an inflatable boat filled with helium could hover, and carry the weight of a human. The rubber boat couldn't even carry its own weight so...
  47. M

    Conversion from aircraft bearing to normal degrees

    I have a list of bearings that I want to convert. The normal degrees circle is oriented with 0 to 360 going counter clockwise. I have degrees calculations that require this. I have a set of data from bearings from an aircraft where I need to convert those bearings to normal degrees bearings. As...
  48. I

    Local Density And Speed Of An Aircraft

    Homework Statement A Pitot is used to measure the air speed of a light aircraft. The pressure difference recorded by the tube in flight was 3300 N/m^2. The local air pressure was 950 kN/m^2 and the temperature was 7 Degrees (280K). Calculate the local air density and the speed of the aircraft...
  49. S

    An unguided weapon is launched off a fighter aircraft flying at 500kts

    An "unguided" weapon is launched off a fighter aircraft flying at 500kts An "unguided" weapon is launched off a fighter aircraft flying at 500kts (844 ft/s) straight and level at an altitude of 4,000 ft above ground level. The weapon is released from the aircraft with an initial velocity of 10...
  50. M

    What is the general formula for gravity acting on an aircraft?

    what is a general formula for the gravity acting on an aircraft ? Thanks in advance regards mike
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