Flight Mechanics

RUAG Aviation provides a wide engineering service spectrum to national and international customers in the field of aerodynamics and flight mechanics. One of the basic disciplines is the performance analysis on airplanes. The performance characteristic of each plane can basically be determined by considering geometrical, mass and engine properties. The results are normally presented in a graphical form. This analysis directly helps the pilot to understand the capabilities and the limits of his aircraft and, thereby, providing a safe flight.

The simplified prerequisite of having a completely stiff airframe can only be made in the beginning of a design phase. Once a more detailed analysis is required, the flow induced loading on the aircraft surface and the resulting deformations have to be considered since they have a direct effect on the aircraft performance, flight and airframe fatigue characteristics. By modelling flowfield, aircraft structure and its interaction – if necessary even under dynamic conditions – these phenomena can be investigated in accurate detail.

The level of importance for flow induced structural movements has been demonstrated by NASA on a earlier model of the F/-18.