AE372 Flight Mechanics

Spring 2016, Dr. Ilkay Yavrucuk

HW#3
AE 372 Flight Mechanics
Spring 2016
Due on: April 5, 2016 at beginning or before class
(Write your section number on the Homework Sheet)
Question1:
Consider an aircraft flying over an aircraft carrier ship somewhere in the Indian Ocean
(Fig.4).
There is Body-Fixed-Coordinate System attached to the ship, Osxsyszs , and a Body-Fixed
Coordinate System is attached to the aircraft, OBxByBzB. The Earth-Fixed-Coordinate System,
OExEyEzE is assumed to be identical to the Inertial Frame.
At the moment the picture was taken the pilot reads the following information in the
cockpit: The airplane is travelling straight towards North-East (direction of the velocity
vector is towards NE) at constant altitude and the angular positions (in Euler angles) are
=10deg, =30deg. Also, the Air-data system shows =5deg and the sideslip angle at
=0deg. The pitot tube shows 800km/h (pitot tube is attached at the nose of the aircraft and
there is no wind in the atmosphere). At the moment shown in the picture the aircraft is in a
positive roll of 5deg/s around its body-x-axis (p), no other angular velocity.
The speed of the ship is 80km/h directly opposite to the aircrafts velocity vector, i.e. it
moves straight to South-West, and the waters are still, therefore no angular velocity on the
ship.

oB xB

zB yB

ys os

yE
xs xE
zs oE

zE
Figure 4: Aircraft flying over an aircraft carrier ship.
(Picture is courtesy of London Sunday Times)

Assume the earth rotation and curvature is ignored for these speeds (making the earth the
equivalent as the inertial frame), and there is no wind, i.e. still atmosphere.
For the instant show in the picture find the following:

1
AE372 Flight Mechanics
Spring 2016, Dr. Ilkay Yavrucuk

a) Find the Transformation Matrix that will transform a vector written in the Body-
Fixed-Coordinate system to the Earth-Fixed-Coordinate system.
b) Write the Transformation Matrix that will transform a vector written in the Body-
Fixed-Coordinate system to the Wind-Fixed-Coordinate system.
c) Write the Transformation Matrix that will transform a vector written in the Body-
Fixed-Coordinate system to the Ship-Body-Fixed-Coordinate system.
d) Clearly write the Euler Angles of the aircraft, the angular velocity vector and the
velocity w.r.t earth in the Vehicle-Carried-Coordinate System, VVE , (Same direction
as Earth Fixed Coordinate System) of the aircraft.
e) Find VBE , VwE and VSE using the Transformation Matrixes found in (a), (b) and (c).
f) What is the flight path angle ()? Are you sure, think again .
g) Find the translational acceleration of the aircraft w.r.t earth written in the aircrafts
Body-Fixed Coordinate System ( aBE ).
h) Find the translational acceleration of the aircraft w.r.t earth written both in the
Earth-Fixed-Coordinate system and the Ship-Body-Fixed-Coordinate System.
i) Assume that the aircraft suddenly increases it its speed by 10km/h every second
without changing the direction of the velocity vector w.r.t to the aircrafts Body-
Fixed-Coordinate System. What is its acceleration now w.r.t. Earth? Write it in any
coordinate system you want. (This is a tough one, dont worry if you get confused.)

Notes:
Be clear and precise in showing your work. That includes text, formulas, data,
additional assumptions, calculations, etc.
Give short and compact answers.
Express yourself clearly.
No need for fancy report formats.
You might start using Matlab/Simulink for faster calculations. Matlab is really
fast in matrix calculations. Also, you can write a small script to calculate the
Transformation Matrixes for a given set of Angles.
Fully understand the problems and solutions. If you do, you probably are on
your way to become a Master in Flight Mechanics and will probably do well
in the exams, too.

Policy:
Students are encouraged to discuss homework verbally with each other, but you
may not work together when preparing written answers nor may written answers
be compared. Homework is due at the beginning of class on the day it is due. Late
homework will be graded, but will not necessarily receive any points.