2025
Flight Stability
Name: Flight Stability
Code: EME14285L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Engenharia Aeroespacial
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Presentation
This course focuses on the analysis of fundamental aspects for understanding aerospace vehicle stability.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
1. Present to the students the principles of static stability of an aerospace vehicle;
2. Explain the relation and influence of the lifting and control surfaces on the aircraft stability;
3. Present the aircraft's dynamic typical responses to aerodynamic disturbances;
4. Introduce to students the main aerodynamic control surfaces of an aircraft and explain the main quality flight control requirements for every movement (dive, yaw, and rolling);
5. Demonstrate the importance of force sensitivity analyses and cover the subject of the main mechanisms to increase/reduce (thus correcting) the force necessary to operate the control surfaces.
2. Explain the relation and influence of the lifting and control surfaces on the aircraft stability;
3. Present the aircraft's dynamic typical responses to aerodynamic disturbances;
4. Introduce to students the main aerodynamic control surfaces of an aircraft and explain the main quality flight control requirements for every movement (dive, yaw, and rolling);
5. Demonstrate the importance of force sensitivity analyses and cover the subject of the main mechanisms to increase/reduce (thus correcting) the force necessary to operate the control surfaces.
Contents
1. Introduction to flight stability
2. Complements of flight performance
3. Longitudinal static stability
4. Longitudinal dynamic stability
5. Directional static stability
6. Lateral static stability
7. Directional/Lateral dynamic stability
8. Introduction to flight control
9. Applications and case studies
2. Complements of flight performance
3. Longitudinal static stability
4. Longitudinal dynamic stability
5. Directional static stability
6. Lateral static stability
7. Directional/Lateral dynamic stability
8. Introduction to flight control
9. Applications and case studies
Teaching Methods
The curricular unit is taught through theoretical and theoretical-practical classes. In the theoretical lectures, the different concepts and principles of the learned subjects are shown. The theoretical-practical classes are used to consolidate the student knowledge through the practical application of the different concepts learned throughout the curricular unit.
Assessment
The students assessment of the Flight Stability curricular unit is within the interval [0,20]. Continuous assessment or by final exam by the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora.
The assessment method consists of the following components:
• [A] Assignments list (30%)
• [T1] Test 1 (35%)
• [T2] Test 2 (35%)
• [E] Final Examination (70%).
The student can choose between 1 out of 2 possible assessment methods, where the Final Grade [FG] is calculated according to the following:
i) CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT: FG = A*0.30 +T1*0.35 +T2*0.35
if FG>= 9.5 ^ A>= 9.5 ^ T1>= 8.0 ^ T2>= 8.0 then student Approved.
ii) FINAL ASSESSMENT: FG = A*0.3 +E*0.7
if FG>= 9.5 ^ A>= 9.5 ^ E>= 9.5 then student Approved.
The assessment method consists of the following components:
• [A] Assignments list (30%)
• [T1] Test 1 (35%)
• [T2] Test 2 (35%)
• [E] Final Examination (70%).
The student can choose between 1 out of 2 possible assessment methods, where the Final Grade [FG] is calculated according to the following:
i) CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT: FG = A*0.30 +T1*0.35 +T2*0.35
if FG>= 9.5 ^ A>= 9.5 ^ T1>= 8.0 ^ T2>= 8.0 then student Approved.
ii) FINAL ASSESSMENT: FG = A*0.3 +E*0.7
if FG>= 9.5 ^ A>= 9.5 ^ E>= 9.5 then student Approved.
Accreditations and Certifications
