Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance
48 hours
One Semester
Hawthorn
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
To provide students with a fundamental knowledge of lift and drag for aircraft, high speed sub sonic (up to Mach 1.0) aerodynamics and the performance of aircraft with particular emphasis on turbojet and turboprop aircraft with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) greater than 5,700kg
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Demonstrate their knowledge of airspeed through calculation and reading of tables and graphs while using Bernoulli’s equation, the ideal gas equation, the relationship between the speed of sound and air temperature, International Standard Atmosphere charts and airspeed error information
- Demonstrate their knowledge of Aerodynamic lift theory at subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds associated with wings and high lift devices using graphs, lift equation, general formulae and tables to transform Aerofoil Lift data into a lift curve for a wing at various Reynolds Numbers and wing aspect ratios and taking into account Mach number and wing planforms including straight, tapered, swept and delta wings. This will be supported by their ability to explain in writing and through calculation the high speed aerodynamic terms including, Drag Divergence, Critical Mach Number, Crest critical Mach Number and Mach Angle
- Demonstrate their knowledge of drag and the components of drag (parasite, induced and Mach drag) at subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds through the use of the drag and drag coefficient equations to construct the graphs for drag force and drag power to calculate and then apply this information to calculate the Lift on Drag Ratio at various airspeeds
- Demonstrate their knowledge of Longitudinal. Directional and Lateral Stability and Control through describing in writing the principles associated static and dynamic stability and such terms as positive static longitudinal stability, stick fixed, stick free and neutral point as well as dynamic oscillations such as Phugoid, S.P.O and Dutch Roll
- Demonstrate their knowledge of Cruise, Climb and Descent Performance for turbojet, turboprop and piston engine aircraft by using formulae and graphs to describe in writing and through calculation criteria for maximum range, maximum endurance, long range cruise, buffet boundaries, energy management, angle and rate of climb or descent, the condition for minimum glide angle, turning performance parameters such as bank angle, load factor, rate of turn and turn radius taking into account aircraft weight, altitude and engine type and performance. This includes the calculation of maximum range and long range cruise speed and describing how these speeds can be optimised
- Demonstrate their knowledge of Payload – Range Optimisation through the construction of a payload range diagram that will allow them to solve a simple route analysis problem
- Demonstrate their knowledge of aircraft Take-off Performance through describing in writing factors that impact on take-off including V Speeds, MTOW, aircraft characteristics, ambient conditions, obstacles, One Engine inoperative take off parameters and associated distances, take off path segments, gross and net flight path descriptors. This will also be demonstrated through the calculation of take-off path climb gradients and minimum third segment heights
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Lecture |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| On-campus Workshop |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Individual | 20% | 1,2,3 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | 20% | 6,7 |
| Examination | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| Quizzes | Individual | 10% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| Tutorial Exercises | Group | 10% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Hurdle
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:
(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and(ii) at least 40% in the final exam.Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.
Content
- Properties of the atmosphere
- Dimensional analysis and the derivation of the lift equation
- Incompressible and compressible airflow
- Airspeed measurement
- Lift generated by aerofoils and wings
- Drag
- High speed flight
- Buffet boundaries
- Aircraft stability and control
- Aircraft cruise performance and cruise performance optimisation
- Payload-Range diagrams
- Aircraft climb, descent and turn performance
- Aircraft take-off performance for aircraft above 5,700kg MTOW
- Take-off V speeds, take-off and accelerate stop distances, take-off climb and obstacle clearance requirements.
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.