Airplane Stability and Control: A History of the Technologies that Made Aviation Possible

by Malcolm J. Abzug, E. Eugene Larrabee

Overview

From the early machines to today's sophisticated aircraft, stability and control have always been crucial considerations. In this second edition, Abzug and Larrabee again forge through the history of aviation technologies to present an informal history of the personalities and the events, the art and the science of airplane stability and control. The book includes never-before-available impressions of those active in the field, from pre-Wright brothers airplane and glider builders through to contemporary aircraft designers. Arranged thematically, the book deals with early developments, research centers, the effects of power on stability and control, the discovery of inertial coupling, the challenge of stealth aerodynamics, a look toward the future, and much more. It is profusely illustrated with photographs and figures, and includes brief biographies of noted stability and control figures along with a core bibliography. Professionals, students, and aviation enthusiasts alike will appreciate this readable history of airplane stability and control.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781139809726
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/23/2002
Series:	Cambridge Aerospace Series , #14
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	34 MB
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Table of Contents

1. Early developments in stability and control; 2. Research centers and texts; 3. Flying qualities becomes a science; 4. Power effects on stability and control; 5. Managing control forces; 6. Stability and control at the design stage; 7. The jets at an awkward age; 8. The discovery of inertial coupling; 9. Spinning and recovery; 10. Tactical airplane maneuverability; 11. High mach number difficulties; 12. Naval aircraft problems; 13. Ultra-light and human-powered airplanes; 14. Fuel slosh, deep stall, and more; 15. Safe personal airplanes; 16. Stability and control issues with variable sweep; 17. Modern canard configurations; 18. Evolution of the equations of motion; 19. The elastic airplane; 20. Stability augmentation; 21. Flying qualities research moves with the times; 22. Challenge of stealth aerodynamics; 23. Very large aircraft; 24. Work still to be done; Short biographies of some stability and control figures; References and core bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"This is a splendid book...How often do you find an erudite treatise that is truly un-put-downable? I learned things from this book about aircraft ranging from Gossamer Condor to the SR-71." Aerospace

"The volume has much good information in it...a useful reference work." Isis

"Every student or researcher working on Stability and Control and Flight Mechanics should make the effort to read and understand the material in this book; the benefit to their appeciation of the demanding nature of aeronautical engineering will be substatial." The Aeronautical Journal, Donal McLean

From the Publisher