This course is designed to provide an integrated introductory treatment of airplane performance with flavor of aircraft design and flight testing.
Organization : onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in
Start Date : Feb 05, 2018 – End Date : March 30, 2018
Duration : 8 weeks
Course Instructor : A K Ghosh is a faculty of Aerospace Engg. Department of IIT Kanpur. He is also the in-charge of the flight laboratory and unmanned aerial vehicle of IIT Kanpur.
Pre-Requisites : Btech/BE in any discipline of engineering
Exam : The Certification examen is optionnal, Rs 1000, needs to be paid. Exam dates : 28 & 29 April (2 sessions on both days: FN-9am to 12 noon; AN-2pm to 5pm)
Content :
Week 1
General Introduction: Airplane Performance Characteristics
George Cayley: Concept of Lift and Drag
Introduction to airplane and its components
Hansa 3 Aircraft and its Primary Systems
Concept of Lift: Aerofoil, Wing, and Complete Aircraft
Drag Polar
Week 2
Revision
Standard Atmosphere: Description and Modelling
Measuring Instruments: Altimeter, Airspeed Indicator
Equations of Motion: Static Performance
Thrust Required, Power Required: Cruise
Excess Thrust and Power: Climb Angle and Rate of Climb
Week 3
Review
Thrust Required: A Closer Look
Modelling of CL: Dimensional Analysis
A Closer Look: Point Mass Model, Dimensional Analysis
Estimation of Drag Polar Through Flight Test
Estimation of Rate of Climb
Week 4
Revision
Range and Endurance
Range and Endurance Continued…
Gliding Flight
Accelerated Flight
V-n Diagram
Week 5
Revision
V stall: Cruise and Manoeuvre
Flaps: High Lift Devices to Reduce Take off / Landing Distance
Take off: Warm-up Lecture
Take off Performance
Take off Performance Continued…
Week 6
Revision
Landing Performance
Landing Performance Continued…
Challenges in Take-off and Landing: Single and Twin Engines
Introduction to Static Stability
Positioning of Centre of Pressure for Static Stability
Week 7
Revision
Stability and Control: Designer’s Perspective
Stability and Control: Designer’s Perspective Continued…
Longitudinal Control: Elevator
Stability: Wing and Tail Contribution
Stability: Wing and Tail Contribution Continued…
Week 8
Control: Elevator
Control: del_E Required
Control: del_E Required continued…
Design Basics: Wing Loading & Thrust Loading
Design Basics: Sweep & Dihedral
Revision
Review
About NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) :
NPTEL is a joint initiative of several Indian Institutes of Technology who offer (free) online courses and certifications in various topics. Course duration is between 4 and 12 weeks (commitment is about 4 -6 hours /week). To get a certification you have to pass weekly online assignments which count for 25% in the final score and a final on site exam in one of the listed Indian exam centers, counting for 75%.
The course is about (single engine) airplane performance. The course content is well structured and in accordance with the announced chapters. It is presented in form of video lectures. In the first interesting videos, a motorglider (Pipistrel) and the Hansa 3 aircraft with their components and their primary system are shown and explained. In most of the other lessons you observe the development of equations on a blackboard presented by the very qualified and passionate Prof. A.K.Ghosh from IIT Kanpur. There are no external links, nor concrete examples. So, it’s a very traditional way of presenting concepts that you have to accept in following this Mooc during 8 weeks. There are no transcriptions and nearly no external resources mentioned. Also, some concepts required for the assignments aren’t explained (sufficiently). So, following the Mooc takes a lot of time, as you have to watch the videos several times or to make internet-researches by your own.
Each assignment is composed of 5 to 10 questions (good to high level), either multiple choice questions or, more often, performance data to calculate. My personal average score for the best six required assignments was 92% (print screen of the progress page). I couldn’t pass the final exam, as exam centers are only located in India.
The platform gives the possibility to discuss (“Ask a question”). Most of the posted questions are about the assignments and stay without answer from the instructors. But it’s nice and interesting to exchange information and ideas with students living on another continent.
All in all, a very traditional but challenging and mathematical engineering course. Thanks to NPTEL to offer this online course free for all.
VdN – Reinhard Finke
