Question 1

(a) Consider a wing of finite span with an elliptic circulation distribution:

2 2
 Γ( y )   y 
  +   = 1, - s ≤ y ≤ s
 Γo   b 

where s=b/2 denotes the wing semi-span. Use this equation, in conjunction with
the Kutta-Joukowsky result for the elementary lift per unit span, to derive an
expression for the total lift on the wing. After that, write down this total lift in
terms of “ Γo” and “s” as well as the free-stream density and speed.

[ 12 marks ]

(b) An aircraft has a wing loading of 4000 N.m-2 with wing span 2s = 26 m and aspect
ratio AR = 10.5 . Using the wing semi-span “s” in the corresponding bound vortex
calculation, determine the strength Γ of the bound vortex when the aircraft is in
steady level flight at a true airspeed of 70 m.s-1 at sea level conditions.

[ 8 marks ]

Question 2

a) The crash of a new civil-aviation aircraft has led to litigation in a civil court case that
alleges the aircraft suddenly became statically unstable before the crash. On behalf of the
prosecution, you are called as an expert witness to explain to both the judge and the court
the meaning and importance of the following concepts: 1) lift; 2) pitching moment; 3)
static stability; 4) centre of gravity; 5) static margin; 6) neutral point; 7) stick-fixed
stability; 8) stick-free stability. Bear in mind the court members know very little about the
engineering jargon of aeronautics and aircraft stability as well as control. Avoiding all
reference to involved algebra and mathematical equations, yet using simple diagrams and
sketches, write at least 10 clear and concise statements that explain the concepts
mentioned above and summarise the evidence you will present to the court.
[ 10 marks ]

b) The court-case aircraft has the following characteristics: ARw=6, ew=0.9, ARt=4,
et=0.8, d/c = 3, CL=0.85, static margin = 8%, it=1.3634o. Knowing that the planform wing
area is Sw=328m2, that the wing and tail may be considered made of symmetrical
aerofoils, and that the aircraft neutral point is located 0.2864 mean aerodynamic chords
aft of the wing aerodynamic centre, determine the planform area of the tail and the angle
of incidence in degrees “α” of the wing for trim. In these conditions, would the aircraft be
guaranteed to feel “natural” to the pilot?
[ 10 marks ]

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AE2201 Aerodynamics 2 May 05.doc
Question 3

The lift coefficient is given by :

1 TE
CL =
c ∫LE
(C p, l − C p, u )d x
where c is the chord, LE and TE are the leading and trailing edges, and C p, l and C p, u are
the pressure coefficients on the lower and upper surfaces. Assume that C p, l has the
opposite sign to C p, u .

An aircraft in steady level flight has a cruising Mach number of M = 0.75 at a pressure
altitude of 12600 m. The ambient air temperature is 7 °C below standard and the ambient
density is 0.294 kg.m-3. A static orifice is located on the upper surface of the wing at 40
% chord from the leading edge. The reading from the orifice indicates a pressure
coefficient of –0.37.

(a) What is the local Mach number and the local speed of sound at this point on the
wing ?

[ 13 marks ]

(b) If the average pressure coefficient on the upper surface of the wing equals the
value at 40 % chord, and if two-thirds of the total lift is generated by the upper
surface, what is the wing lift coefficient ?

[ 4 marks ]

(c) What is the aircraft’s wing loading ?

[ 3 marks ]

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AE2201 Aerodynamics 2 May 05.doc
Question 4

A Learjet is cruising at a pressure altitude of 9000 m at a Mach number of M = 0.60 . The

ambient temperature is 225 K. The aircraft has the following specifications :

• gross weight of 6500 kg;

• wing area is 29 m2;
• wing span is 14.5 m;
• the wing is of rectangular planform.

Determine :

(a) the Reynolds number of the wing;

[ 7 marks ]

(b) the (flat plate) skin friction drag coefficient and force of the wing;

[ 5 marks ]

(c) the boundary layer thickness at the trailing edge of the wing;

[ 2 marks ]

(d) the lift coefficient;

[ 2 marks ]

(e) the induced drag coefficient and force of the wing (assuming an elliptical lift
distribution).

[ 4 marks ]

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AE2201 Aerodynamics 2 May 05.doc
Question 5

Discuss the supercritical airfoil. Make reference to the critical Mach number M c , the
crest critical Mach number M cc , and the drag divergence Mach number M div . Include
the advantages and disadvantages of the supercritical airfoil, its design, as well as a
typical pressure coefficient curve.

[ 20 marks ]

Question 6

a) Draw a schematic yet accurate diagram, with distances, forces and moments, of the
main components of an aeroplane that contribute to its static stability. Based on this
diagram either derive or state the expression for CL,α, for the entire aeroplane, and the
equilibrium equations for an aeroplane in steady cruise flight. Also explain the concept of
trim and the aerodynamic origin of all terms in the expression for CL,α .
[ 10 marks ]

b) For an aeroplane with ARw=5.5, ew=0.9, ARt=3.5, et=0.9, St/Sw = 0.3, it=1.283o,
α=9.531o, determine the coefficient of lift of the aeroplane. If this information is
insufficient to determine whether the aeroplane is in trim, state what additional
information may be required.
[ 10 marks ]

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AE2201 Aerodynamics 2 May 05.doc
Question 7

With reference to the equations of Question 2, consider an aeroplane with symmetrical

wing and tail and with the following characteristics: ARw=6.5, ew=0.8, ARt=4, et=0.8,
St/Sw = 0.35, d/c = 2.75, CL=1.2, static margin = 10%.

a) Determine in degrees the wing angle of attack “α” and the tail setting angle it.
[ 10 marks ]

b) The tail of this aeroplane has the following characteristics: τ=0.5/rad, b1= -0.63/rad,
b2= -0.97/rad, 3D-effect correction factor = 0.630, tail setting ihs=1o. Stating whether the
elevator is raised or lowered, determine the magnitude of the elevator setting δe for trim
and corresponding coefficient of elevator-hinge moment CH.
[ 10 marks ]

Question 8

The expression for the stick-force gradient “A” may be stated as

W  (− b2 )  xn x  b S x x 
A =    − CG C L ,α + τ 1 (1 − ε α )C Lt ,α t  n − n 
 Sw  τ C C S t  d xn   c free c  b2 Sw  c c free 
L ,α Lt ,α  − 
Sw  c c 
Consider an aeroplane in steady cruise flight with a trim speed of 60m/s and with the
following characteristics, ARw=7, ew=0.8, ARt=4, et=0.8, St/Sw = 1/3, d/c = 3, static
margin = 25%, α=12.059o, tail setting ihs=2o , τ=0.5/rad, b1= -0.63/rad, b2= -0.97/rad, 3D-
effect correction factor = 0.63. For this aeroplane, the total weight is W = 25,000 N, the
wing planform area is Sw=15 m2, the stick elevator gearing is G=1.5 rad/m, the elevator
planform area is Se=1.4 m2 and the elevator average chord is ce=0.3m.

a) Based on the results for A, state whether the aeroplane would feel natural to the pilot.
After that, determine the stick force at 50m/s and 100m/s and indicate which one is a push
and which one is a pull.
[ 8 marks ]

P 1
b) With reference to the stick force expression = ρV 2 (b1α hs + b2δ e ) , determine the
GS e ce 2
trim elevator setting for flight at 105m/s at an altitude of 5,400m.
[ 12 marks ]

Examiners : Dr. J. Iannelli

Dr. A. Irving Brown

External examiner : Professor D.I.A. Poll

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AE2201 Aerodynamics 2 May 05.doc
 DATA SHEET

• THE ISA TABLE IS INCLUDED

• TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITY :

θ sin 2θ
∫ sin
2
θ dθ = − +C
2 4

• SUTHERLAND’S FORMULA :

3
 T  2  273 + 110.4 
−5
µ = 1.71 × 10    
 273   T + 110.4 

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AE2201 Aerodynamics 2 May 05.doc
ISA TABLE

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AE2201 Aerodynamics 2 May 05.doc