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. C

    Acceleration of an aircraft

    Hi, I don't know how hard this problem really is, I've tried setting up a differential equation and get garbage answers. Can anyone help me? Imagine two identical aircraft with identical drag, wing area and thrust but different payloads, such that one has a max straight and level speed of...
  2. E

    How can I calculate torque and RPM for a P-51 Mustang in a Blender3d simulation?

    Hello people. I've been making a sim of a P-51 Mustang in Blender3d and am working on the physics. I've got the Drag, Lift and Thrust with help from here. I need help now with: Flight Dynamics (Roll, Yaw and Pitch physics) I need to know the amount of force regarding torque on the aircraft...
  3. W

    Rate of Climb Calculations (w/ 4 engine jet powered aircraft)

    I have this problem and it seems like it has a simple solution, however I can't seem to figure it out. Using the following values and the previous equation calculate the rate of climb for a typical airplane at an altitude of 8000m. 4 Engines each with 150kN of thrust. Aircraft mass is...
  4. M

    Calculating Takeoff Time for an Aircraft

    Homework Statement An aircraft has a lift-off speed of 40m/s. How long does it take the aircraft to be airborn after a takeoff run of 320m? Homework Equations I know that I have to divide 320m by the speed (40m/s). But if I do that, I get a wrong result. The result should be 16s and this...
  5. JaredJames

    Is There An Aircraft That Has Never Crashed?

    As the title states, has there ever been an aircraft, that has never crashed? Just for clarification, I mean a TYPE/MODEL of aircraft (for example Boeing 757) not a specific aircraft. So please, no random aircraft registrations of currently operating aircraft! Jared
  6. S

    What Is the Best Software for Designing Military and Commercial Aircraft?

    I will soon be starting to design either a transonic or hypersonic military aircraft. I'm just curious what software would be best to use, I have previous experience with MatLab and AAA (darcorp). I'm not sure if AAA will be able to work correctly at those speeds. Any help would be great...
  7. C

    How Does Air Flow Over an Aircraft Wing?

    So I know that the faster the fluid moves the lower the pressure . But what I don’t get about an airplane wing producing lift , so the plane is cutting through the air , and the air molecules are still . Why does the air molecule on the top part magically just speed up ?.
  8. A

    Aeronautical Engineering & Aircraft Accident Causes

    hey guys i just want to know if an aeronautical engineer fault in designing or in building the aircraft could cause an aircraft accident?
  9. L

    Re-writing aircraft equations of motion (attachment problem fixed)

    Hi, I hope someone can help me with this question, I originally posted this question in the homework help forumbut no one seems to be able to help me with it. I think my problem is more math related - I don't really know where to start. I have been a given a matrix containing aircraft...
  10. L

    Rewriting aircraft equations of motion

    Hi, I hope someone can help me with this question, although its aeronautical engineering, I think I have more of a maths related problem - I don't really know where to start. I have been a given a matrix containing aircraft equations of motion (see attached picture). Also shown is an equation...
  11. A

    Modeling Aircraft Wing as Cantilevered Beam

    Hi For an initial approximate, I am modelling an aicraft wing as a cantilevered beam. I want to model the beam to incorporate the different materials used; a composite plate is sandwiched between a foam material and therefore the stiffnesses are different. How can I take this into account or...
  12. T

    Landing forces at aircraft touchdownequations?

    Hello All, My first post here - I wonder if anyone can help? I am attempting to apply fracture mechanics to an investigation of an aircraft structural component, and am having difficulty finding a suitable method of adequately calculating the total applied stress (hence 'landing...
  13. R

    Ground run of an Aircraft Formula

    Hi, I am trying to work out the ground run distance of takeoff for an aircraft. I can't really write the formula down because of the length and many variations of it so I am just hoping that you know what I am talking about. I am trying to work it out for a cessna 172 so i am expecting a...
  14. H

    Real world Aircraft landing deceleration problem

    I'm trying to figure out the average deceleration of an aircraft that touches the ground at 104 knots (175.53 ft/sec) and decelerates to zero in 3200 feet? Does anyone know how to do this? Thank you very much to all who reply.
  15. S

    Model Aircraft Design for High Lift

    Hi, I need to make changes to an existing design of a model radio controlled aircraft to increase its lift to carry more payload. Pls confirm my ideas and any suggesstions would be really appreciated. Using wingtips to reduce induced drag and increase lift. Will a Dihedral affect lift in...
  16. F

    Fluid dynamics of an aircraft

    I have 2 questions. Homework Statement 1)An aircraft is flying at sea level at a speed of 280km/h. Calculate the static pressure and total pressure at the stagnation point. From a standard atmosphere table, for sea level altitude, pressure is 101325 Pa. Density of air is 1.2250 kg/m3. 2)...
  17. A

    Two Oxford Admissions Questions, Pedulums and Aircraft

    Though I'd scan for ease ;) Homework Statement Check the Pendulum question out http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/37461/physhelp/secC1.png and http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/37461/physhelp/secC2.png,and the http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/37461/physhelp/secB1.png.Homework Equations Should all be in the...
  18. S

    Calculating Parachute Sizing to Slow Landing Aircraft: A Problem-Solving Scenario

    I'm trying to solve a problem which involves the following scenario. Any help would be great! A landing aircraft (mass 14 tonnes) is to be slowed from 300km/hr to 180km/hr in 3 seconds, by the deployment of two identical parachutes at its rear. Determine the diameter of each parachute. The...
  19. J

    Exploring Momentum Transfer in Aircraft Motion

    momentum transfer? when aircraft is in motion, it has momentum. Since it has momentum, there is momentum transfer taking place between the aircraft and the air particles. During this momentum transfer what exactly is happening between the wings and fluid particles that are present right...
  20. R

    Aircraft approaching landing, vector, velocity, position problem. Help

    Homework Statement As an aircraft approaches landing, the components of its position are given by: x=81t y=500-27t Velocity vector of aircraft during descent is given by: 81m/s (i hat) + -27m/s (j hat) The value of the speed during the descent is: 85.381m/s What angle does the velocity...
  21. J

    Finding Thrust from aircraft, need rolling friction

    Homework Statement An Airbus A320 jetliner has a takeoff mass of 75,000 kg. It reaches its takeoff speed of 82 m/s in 35s. Find the Thrust of the engines, don't worry about air resistance, but rolling friction is substantial. Homework Equations Fnet=mass*acceleration a=(82/35)...
  22. wolram

    Aircraft Crash at London Airport: Ice in Fuel or Cop Out?

    Heard on the radio that the aircraft that crash landed at London airport crashed because of ice in the fuel (or that is the best guess) surly this is a cop out.
  23. Q

    Aircraft drops package find vertical distance

    An aircraft flying in a straight line at constant height h and speed U drops a package on a target at ground level. The package is subject to air resistance whose magnitude is kmv where v is the speed of the falling package, m its mass, and k > 0 a constant. (a) Show that the vertical...
  24. S

    Electromagnetic Induction and aircraft wing

    Homework Statement 4) The wing of an aircraft is 60m long and the aircraft is traveling at 250ms-1. The vertical component of the Earth’s magnetic field, which the wing is cutting, has the value of 4.3 X 10-5 T. Calculate: a. The Flux cut per second by the wing b. The induced emf set up...
  25. S

    Aircraft climbing upwards - When do they reach 3 km?

    Homework Statement A jet aircrft climbs in a straight line at an atitude of 60 degrees to the horizontal the jet thrust amounts to 90 kn the mass of the aircraft is 8 tonne and the average air resistance amounts to 11kN calculate the time taken to reach a height of 3km if the speed at the...
  26. V

    Aircraft wings - Kelvins Circulation Theorem and the conservation of vorticity

    This is what I understand about Kelvin's Circulation Theorem 1)for inviscid (where the viscous forces are much LESS than inertial forces) AND uniform density flow, the circulation is conserved. 2)This implies (by some arduos vector calculus manipulations) that the vorticity of each fluid...
  27. J

    Solving Aircraft Velocity Problem: FBDs, a-sub-n & Force in x Direction

    heres the problem i was working on http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/guitaristx/plane.jpg heres my work http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/guitaristx/planework.jpg do my FBD's look ok?...and I am trying to figure the velocity of B first, does my a-sub-n look ok?...and to...
  28. V

    Lift forces acting upon an aircraft

    I've been trying to conceptualise accurately the lift forces upon an aircraft in physics terms, for a simulator flight manual I've been working on. What I've got from some rudimentary flight training is that low pressure above the wing rather than high pressure below it causes lift, obviously...
  29. B

    What is the disadvantage to a round (disk) shaped aircraft

    For some time I've been thinking of making a round disk shaped model aircraft that would appear to have low drag, maximum internal carrying space, and maximum load carrying ability. As you can guess, there is little available on such a design, other than the Pancake, built at the end of WWII...
  30. J

    Calculating G from landing Aircraft

    Hopefully I have posted this in the correct section; Can anyone help with the equation(s) & assumptions required to specifically calculate the landing G load of a modern jet aircraft. I'm trying to calculate the G deceleration rate of an aircraft on landing based on the initial vertical...
  31. P

    Flying between aircraft carriers - vectors

    Homework Statement You are a pilot on an aircraft carrier. You must fly to another aircraft carrier, now 1450 km at 45 degree of your position, moving at 56 km/hr due east. The wind is blowing from the south at 72 km/hr. Calculate the heading and airspeed needed to reach the carrier 2.5 hour...
  32. R

    In what direction should the aircraft head?

    Homework Statement The pilot of an aircraft wishes to fly due west in a 50.0 km/h wind blowing toward the south. The speed of the aircraft in the absence of a wind is 205 km/h. a.In what direction should the aircraft head? b. What should its speed be relative to the ground? Homework...
  33. G

    Pspice power system on an aircraft

    I am working on modeling a power system on an aircraft right now, the problem is that I have loads that are constant power drawing no matter the voltage. They will draw 5kilowatts no matter 28 volts or 22 volts. My problem is modeling them. I can model them at one particular voltage but I want a...
  34. M

    Thrust Vectoring - Jet Aircraft

    To go off on a tangent - I am watching a discovery channel program about the F22 fighter. A pilot (who looks about 15) is describing how the aircraft's engine is unique because it can vector thrust for manouverability and can fly supersonic without afterburner. I suppose that's true now that...
  35. B

    Aircraft Guidance in a Crosswind

    This is a differential equations problem that I've been having some trouble with. A plane is flying and always pointing towards point (0,0) on an xy plane. Wind is constantly blowing North (positive y direction). The wind speed and speed of the aircraft through the air are constant. (a)...
  36. J

    News Countries - Aircraft carriers

    hey Was wondering. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier 1) Does USA really have 12 4.5 billion USD Carriers ? or are some from the cold war ? Are Cold war carriers of any use ? (like to carry helicopters) ? 2) Does france really have only 1 aircraft carrier now ? That seems small...
  37. C

    Relative Velocity of an aircraft carrier

    Homework Statement The Attempt at a Solution Vch = Vce + Vhe Do I have this correct? I am guessing I need to find the velocity of the carrier with the respect to earth, and also find the velocity of the helicopter with respect to earth. Than with these two answers I can find...
  38. I

    Vertical lift aircraft fuel longevity

    Anyone know how long a typical let's say news helicopter can last in the air given how much fuel it holds? I am not sure but I heard a news helicopter or a police helicopter probably won't last more than 3 hours in the air. Some military transport helicopters can only do about 2 and attack...
  39. A

    Doing long jump inside aircraft in flight

    A friend of mine who has a lot of experience with aircraft tells me the following:- His premise seems to be that something changes when your feet are off the floor. I think what he is saying is incorrect and that the distance jumped will be the same in either direction as the whole...
  40. T

    Calculating Aircraft Speed: Weight vs Thrust

    How do you figure out how fast an aircraft can travel, in Km/H ,if given the weight and the thrust. For example: the aircraft weighs 3,100 lbs and has 20,000lbs of thrust i thought it was 20,000/3,100= 6.5m/s/s which would be 23km/h ? but a 747 weighs around 850,00 lbs and has...
  41. T

    Exploring Conservation of Mechanical Energy for Aircraft Landing & Falling Ball

    I selected two motion problems: 1) Aircraft landing 2) Ball falling onto the gound Using conservation of mechnical energy principles I need to fully expain and justify my reasons why its more suitable than applying Newton's laws of motion. I have already said a) Newton laws of...
  42. P

    Aircraft Materials: Jumbo Jets 787, A380 | Get Info in 1 Month

    Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I have to present a paper on Aircraft materials and I have only one month left to prepare... I've split my paper into 3 parts and for the third aspect,I need to know the material details of Jumbo Jets like 787...
  43. B

    Question on longitudinal static stability of an aircraft

    wat will be the longitudinal static stability of an aircraft with a larger wing to a smaller wing?
  44. S

    Heaviest Lifting Aircraft?

    I was reading about some recent announcements by Aeros and their competitor SkyCat, both of whom are seeking to marke large hybrid airships as a means of transporting very heavy payloads through the air. I'd like to ask, what would be the best engineering solution to safely transport the...
  45. N

    Rate Of Turn and Turn Radius of an aircraft

    I have been working on a problem trying to solve the turn diameter of an aircraft in a steady state level turn. I have been using the standard equations for turn radius and rate of turn. The formulas I am using are: 1) Turn Radius = (Velocity*Velocity)/(11.26 *Tan (bank Angle)) , velocity...
  46. P

    What are the best resources for learning about aircraft production techniques?

    My dear physics peeps, brothers, sisters, friends... PLEASE SAVE MY SOUL...... My professor asked me to do a mini research on aircraft production techniques, and submit a 200 page report... Through out the last week, I banged my head hard over the internet, and found not a single page on...
  47. S

    Aircraft structure (thin walled closed section beam)

    Figure shows the cross section of a single cell, thin walled beam with the horizontal axis of symmetry. The direct stresses are carried by the booms B1 to B4, while the walls are effective only in carrying shear stresses. Assuming that the basic theory of bending is applicable, calculate the...
  48. wolram

    Impossible Flight: One Wing Aircraft Soars Despite Odds

    Can an aircraft fly with just one wing? it sounds impossible but this film shows otherwise. And the pilot pulled out of a spin, the use of afterburner seems to have given the aircraft the extra speed to stabilise flight. Still very odd, i can not see how aerodynamically this aircraft flew.
  49. S

    Problem 9.17 aircraft structure, Megson

    does anyone know the solution of problem 9.17 of the book Aircraft structures for engineering students or help me with how to approach to solve the problem. regards,
  50. R

    Aircraft Inventions: Exploring Simple Flying Solutions

    hi all, I am new to the forum as you've probably guessed. this is probably the last thread i'll ever start, and I am probably about to make a tit of myself cause i don't really know anything about physics but.. im starting to wonder why nothing seems to be available to buy, that will simply...
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