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Introduction to Aircraft
Aerodynamics and Flight
Performance

Aircraft Performance
AE3120 Aircraft Aerodynamics and Flight
Performance
Dr. ir. Djoko Sardjadi
Ema Amalia, ST., MT.

Fakultas Teknik Mesin dan Dirgantara

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• Our state of knowledge is now such that one can predict

with some certainty the performance of an airplane
before it is ever flown.
• We will now learn the first principle of aircraft
performance prediction

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Coordinate System

[1]

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• The angular rates about the axes of x, y, and z are called

rolling, pitching, and yawing.
• Motion in airplane symmetry is called longitudinal
motion.
• Motion of airplane symmetry is called lateral motion.

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• Airplane in Steady Climb condition

Thrust is a propelling force to balance

The drag of airplane

Lift is mainly the force perpendicular

To velocity that lift the airplane

Drag is all aerodynamics forces that act

In opposite to velocity vector

There is a moment that tend to pitch

Up the airplane that must be balanced
[1] By force of the tail
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• Drag = Parasite Drag + Induced Drag

• Parasite Drag is including all of drag produced by components of
aircraft.
• Drag produced by wing is called profile drag and is part of the parasite
drag

• W is the gross weight of aircraft and having the direction in vertical

• Moment is produced by distribution of lift of many surfaces. It is

positive when nose up. In the trim condition the resultant of moments
is zero.

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• In the direction of flight:

• In normal direction to the flight path:

• Solved for 𝜃𝑐 (angle of climb), we will

have: [1]

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𝜃𝑐 is appeared in the both sides of equation.

Let’s assume that the angle of 𝜃𝑐 and 𝜃 − 𝜃𝑐 Is small, and except for VSTOL, Thrust is only a
fraction of weight, then we can get:

This equation is for an airplane that propelled

with turbojet or rocket
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• For airplane propelled by shaft engine/propeller, we will

use the following equations.
• First consider an airplane is moving with velocity V
through a distance S, hence the work is given by:

• Power is the rate of work performed:

Velocity

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• Therefore, Power available from the propeller is given

by:

• If power delivered by engine to the shaft is 𝑃𝐸 , then

relationship between power available and 𝑃𝐸 is given by:

Where 𝜂 is propeller efficiency. The value of 𝜂 is 85% to

90% in cruise condition.
• We can derive that power required to overcome drag is

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Flying Quality

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• In addition to good airplane performance, an airplane should

have a good maneuverability and agility in order to accepted
by consumer.
• Maneuverability relates to a steady operating state of an
airplane such as a turn or a pull-up.
• For example, an airplane is more maneuverable the shorter
its turning radius or the more quickly it can complete a loop.
• Agility is a modern term, which relates to how quickly an
airplane can transition from one steady maneuver to
another.

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• Longitudinal Static Stability

• The aerodynamic pitching moment, M, about the CG of
an airplane at a fixed speed and altitude depends only
on the angle of attack, .

A-D Stable
A-C Unstable

[1]

Requirement for longitudinal

Static stability
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References
[1] Barnes W. McCormick, Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight
Mechanics, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1994.

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Thank You

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