Basic Flight Mechanics A Simple Approach Without Equations

This book presents flight mechanics of aircraft, spacecraft, and rockets to technical and non-technical readers in simple terms and based purely on physical principles. Adapting an accessible and lucid writing style, the book retains the scientific authority and conceptual substance of an engineering textbook without requiring a background in physics or engineering mathematics. Professor Tewari explains relevant physical principles of flight by straightforward examples and meticulous diagrams and figures. Important aspects of both atmospheric and space flight mechanics are covered, including performance, stability and control, aeroelasticity, orbital mechanics, and altitude control. The book describes airplanes, gliders, rotary wing and flapping wing flight vehicles, rockets, and spacecraft and visualizes the essential principles using detailed illustration. It is an ideal resource for managers and technicians in the aerospace industry without engineering degrees, pilots, and anyone interested in the mechanics of flight.

What is Flight?.- Modes of Flight.- Basic Definitions.- Gravity and Space Flight.- Buoyancy and Balloon Flight.- Aerodynamic Flight.- Propulsion.- Rocket Flight.- Aerodynamics.- Generation of Lift.- Drag and its Components.- Stall.- High Speed Flight and Shock Waves.- Rarefied Flow in the Upper Atmosphere.- Re-Entry and Aerodynamic Heating.- Flight of Airplanes and Gliders.- Balancing Forces for a Steady Flight.- Gliding Flight.- Aircraft Engines and their Characteristics.- Level Flight of Airplanes.- Climbing Flight.- Horizontal Turns and Vertical Maneuvers.- Take-off and Landing.- Need for Horizontal and Vertical Tails.- Ailerons, Elevator, and Rudder.- Static and Dynamic Stability.- Flapping and Rotary Wing Flight.- Birds, Insects, and Ornithopters.- Why Can’t We Fly like Birds?.- Helicopters in Hover, Descent and Ascent.- Helicopters in Forward Flight.- Need for a Tail Rotor.- Collective and Cyclic Controls.- Flight of Autogyros.- Rotor Stability and Ground Resonance.- Flight of Rockets and Spacecraft.- Rocket Ascent.- Gravity Turn Trajectory.- Rocket Stability.- Launch into a Circular Orbit.- Other Orbits.- Lunar and Interplanetary Flight.- Gravity Assist Maneuver.- Attitude Maneuvers.- Ballistic and Lifting Re-Entry.- Terminal Flight and Touchdown.- Appendix-A: Atmospheric Properties.- Appendix-B: Basic Flight Equations (for Advanced Readers).- Bibliography.