The second edition of Flight Stability and Automatic Control presents an organized introduction to the useful and relevant topics necessary for a flight stability and controls course. Not only is this text presented at the appropriate mathematical level, it also features standard terminology and nomenclature, along with expanded coverage of classical control theory, autopilot designs, and modern control theory. Through the use of extensive examples, problems, and historical notes, author Robert Nelson develops a concise and vital text for aircraft flight stability and control or flight dynamics courses.

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.

In the current climate of increasing complexity and functional integration in all areas of engineering and technology, stability and control are becoming essential ingredients of engineering knowledge. Many of today’s products contain multiple engineering technologies, and what were once simple mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic products now contain integrated electronics and sensors. Control theory reduces these widely varied technical components into their important dynamic characteristics, expressed as transfer functions, from which the subtleties of dynamic behaviours can be analyzed and understood. Stability and Control of Aircraft Systems is an easy-to-read and understand text that describes control theory using minimal mathematics. It focuses on simple rules, tools and methods for the analysis and testing of feedback control systems using real systems engineering design and development examples. Clarifies the design and development of feedback control systems Communicates the theory in an accessible manner that does not require the reader to have a strong mathematical background Illustrated throughout with figures and tables Stability and Control of Aircraft Systems provides both the seasoned engineer and the graduate with the know-how necessary to minimize problems with fielded systems in the area of operational performance.

Based on a 15-year successful approach to teaching aircraft flight mechanics at the US Air Force Academy, this text explains the concepts and derivations of equations for aircraft flight mechanics. It covers aircraft performance, static stability, aircraft dynamics stability and feedback control.