Introduction to Aerospace Engineering

Octavian Thor Pleter, PhD, PhD, MBA (MBS)

This presentation draws on ideas from Dr. Pleters articles, books, and unpublished manuscripts. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means or in any form - electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without written consent from Octavian Thor Pleter or the
Brainbond consultancy firm, www.brainbond.ro Version 1.1 dated 21 October 2010 O. T. Pleter and Brainbond

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Course Outlines
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Introduction. Why Aerospace Engineering?

Flight Principles. Classification of Aircraft and Spacecraft.
Airplane. Aircraft Structure and Systems. Flight Control.
Aircraft Classes and Categories. Aircraft Materials.
Airplane Flight. Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag. Airfoils.
Axes. Controls, Stability. Load Factor. Stall.
Helicopters. Controls, Stability. Lighter than Air Aircraft.
Airspeed, Mach Number. Flight Instruments: Pitot, Gyro, Magnetic.
Aero Engines and the Fuel System. Piston Engine. Jet Engine.
Instruments.
10.Aerodrome Operations. Air Traffic Management, Airspace. VFR, IFR.
11.Spacecraft Propulsion, Control and Stability.
12.Navigation. Air Navigation Systems. Automatic Flight Control. FMS.
13.Air Transport Engineering. Aviation Business. Regulators. Chicago
Convention.
14.Conclusions.
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Airplanes
Fixed-Wing Aircraft
Aerodynes
(Aerodynamic Lift)

Powered Aircraft

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Aircraft Structure
Fuselage
Propulsion
Systems

Empennage

Wing
Landing
Gear

Boeing 737-300
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Wing Parts
Winglet

Aileron

Slats

Flaps
Airbus
A330-200

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Wing

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sweep angle improves behavior at high speeds

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Wing
Airfoil

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Wing
Airfoil

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Types of Wings
Rectangular
High Wing
braced with
Wing Struts
Monoplane

DHC-3 Turbine
Otter
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Types of Wings
Swept-back
Trapezoidal
High Wing
Cantilevered
Monoplane

Antonov
An-225 Mirya
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Types of Wings
Swept-back
Trapezoidal
Low Wing
Monoplane

Boeing
737-300
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Types of Wings
Swept-back
Trapezoidal
Low Wing
Monoplane

Airbus
A321
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High Wing
+ stability
+ visibility from
the cabin
+ engine
position high
above the
runway
- long landing
gear or under
the engines
DHC Dash-8
Q400
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Low Wing
+ short landing gear
+ ground effect
- low position of
engine intakes (if
anchored under the
wings)

Cessna Citation
560 XL
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Types of Wings
Elliptical
Low Wing
Monoplane

Hawker
Hurricane
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Types of Wings
Swept-forward
Trapezoidal
Low Wing
Monoplane

Saab 2000

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Types of Wings
Rectangular
Biplane braced
with Wing
Struts

Antonov
An-2
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Types of Wings
Rectangular
Triplane
braced with
Wing Struts

Fokker Dr.I

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Types of Wings
Gothic-Delta
Low Wing
Monoplane

BAEAerospatiale
Concorde
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Types of Wings
Delta Mid
Wing
Monoplane

Saab Grippen

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Empennage Parts
Elevator

Elevator Trim Tab

Stabilizer
Rudder Trim Tab
Rudder

Fin (Vert. Stabilizer)

Embraer
ERJ-145
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Types of Empennage
Tail Section:
Fin +
Stabilizer

IAR-80
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Types of Empennage
+ allows a rear-engine
configuration
- risk of deep stall

T-Tail

ROMBAC 1-11
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Types of Empennage
V-Tail

+ minimizes the control

surfaces
- complex flight control

RQ-1 Predator
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Types of Empennage
Canard

+ adds maneuverability
- low balance margin

Saab Grippen
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Propulsion System Parts

Engine

Propeller

Piper PA-34 Seneca

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Types of Engines
Piston

+ inexpensive
- low thrust
- low speed
- low altitude

Zlin 726
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Types of Engines
Turboprop

+ low consumption
- speed lower than
jet engine

ATR 42
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Types of Engines
Turbojet Engine

+ high speed
+ high altitude
- high fuel
consumption
- very noisy

Aerospatiale
Sud Caravelle
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Types of Engines
Turbofan Engine

+ low consumption
+ low noise
+ high speed
+ high altitude
- large diameter

Boeing 777-300
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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Single Engine in Front (Pull)

+ inexpensive
+ easy to pilot
- safety
- asymmetrical
momentum

Cessna 182 Skylane

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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Single Engine Aft (Push)

+ inexpensive
+ easy to fly
+ perfect visibility
- safety
- intake flow not laminar
- stability issues

LN-3 Seagull light amphibian

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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Two Engines in Front (Pull)

+ redundancy (safety)
+ symmetrical
momentum
- engine-out piloting
technique

Beech Super King Air 200

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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Two Engines Aft (Push)

+ redundancy (safety)
+ symmetrical
momentum
+ perfect visibility
- engine-out piloting
technique
- intake flow issues

Piaggio P-180 Avanti

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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Two Engines Aft

+ redundancy (safety)
+ symmetrical
momentum
+ reduced cabin noise
+ better engine-out
handling
- long fuel lines

McDonnell Douglas MD-80

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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Three Engines Aft

++ redundancy (safety)
+ no ETOPS restrictions
+ reduced cabin noise
+ better engine-out
handling
-long fuel lines
- higher fuel consumption

Boeing 727-200
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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Three Engines Wings + Aft

++ redundancy (safety)
+ no ETOPS restrictions
- higher fuel consumption

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Four Engines Wings

+++ redundancy (safety)

+ no ETOPS restrictions
-- higher fuel consumption

Airbus A380-800
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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Four Engines Aft

+++ redundancy (safety)

+ no ETOPS restrictions
+ better engine-out
handling
+ reduce cabin noise
-- higher fuel consumption
- long fuel lines

Ilyushin IL-62M
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Number of Engines and Mounting Solutions

Six Engines Wings

+++ redundancy (safety)

+ no ETOPS restrictions
--- very low fuel efficiency

Antonov An-225 Miriya

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Types of Landing Gear

Aft Wheel Tricycle

+ angle of attack
+ steer using
differential brake
- visibility
- comfort when on
ground

Douglas DC-3
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Types of Landing Gear

Front Wheel Tricycle

+ visibility
+ comfort when on
ground
+ easy to steer
- needs rotation at
liftoff

BAC 1-11
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Describe this aircraft

BAC 1-11
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Describe this aircraft

BAC 1-11
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Describe this aircraft

BAC 1-11
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