Noted for its exceptional performance, the Sukhoi Su-27 is not only one of the most capable fourth-generation fighters, but its development history is also remarkably rich. The 'Flanker' story took on a new industrial and political dimension when the Su-27 was chosen by China to meet the People's Liberation Army Air Force's requirement for a new fourth-generation type. This was a win-win-situation: Russia received a much-needed multi-billion-dollar contract and the PLAAF, for the first time, obtained a true high-end fourth-generation fighter. However, what followed was a complex drama, with both sides telling different stories. Following the direct sale from Russia, China obtained a contract for licence manufacturing. This yielded mixed success in the beginning and by the time the manufacturing procedures had evolved and improved, the licenced J-11 fighters no longer met the PLAAF's requirements. Subsequently, China developed indigenous variants of the 'Flanker' equipped with improved avionics, weapons, and engines, which Russia regards as a breach of the formal agreement. Regardless of whether these 'Sino-Flankers' are illegal copies, evolved clones or indigenous versions, the Chinese 'Flanker' series ultimately evolved into a wide range of variants, sometimes with no true counterparts in Russia. This book provides a full overview of the Chinese 'Flanker' family, describing the genesis of this family and providing a review of the variants, their systems, and capabilities and how they are used by the People's Liberation Army.

Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students, Seventh Edition, is the leading self-contained aircraft structures course text suitable for one or more semesters. It covers all fundamental subjects, including elasticity, structural analysis, airworthiness and aeroelasticity. Now in its seventh edition, the author has continued to expand the book's coverage of analysis and design of composite materials for use in aircraft and has added more real-world and design-based examples, along with new end-of-chapter problems of varying complexity.

A modern pedagogical treatment of the latest industry trends in rocket propulsion, developed from the authors' extensive experience in both industry and academia. Students are guided along a step-by-step journey through modern rocket propulsion, beginning with the historical context and an introduction to top-level performance measures, and progressing on to in-depth discussions of the chemical aspects of fluid flow combustion thermochemistry and chemical equilibrium, solid, liquid, and hybrid rocket propellants, mission requirements, and an overview of electric propulsion. With a wealth of homework problems (and a solutions manual for instructors online), real-life case studies and examples throughout, and an appendix detailing key numerical methods and links to additional online resources, this is a must-have guide for senior and first year graduate students looking to gain a thorough understanding of the topic along with practical tools that can be applied in industry.

Science fiction is filled with spacecraft. On Earth, actual rockets explode over Texas while others make their way to Mars. But what are spacecraft, and just what can they teach us about imagination, ecology, democracy, and the nature of objects? Why do certain spacecraft stand out in popular culture? If ever there were a spacecraft that could be detached from its context, sold as toys, turned into Disney rides, parodied, and flit around in everyone's head-the Millennium Falcon would be it. Springing from this infamous Star Wars vehicle, Spacecraft takes readers on an intergalactic journey through science fiction and speculative philosophy, revealing real-world political and ecological lessons along the way. In this book Timothy Morton shows how spacecraft are never mere flights of fancy.

Equipping readers with the ability to analyze the aerodynamic forces on an aircraft, the book provides comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of subsonic and supersonic airflow. This book begins with the fundamental physics principles of aerodynamics, then introduces the Continuity Equation, Energy Equations, and Bernoulli's Equation, which form the basic aerodynamic principles for subsonic airflow. It provides a thorough understanding of the forces acting on an aircraft across a range of speeds and their effects on the aircraft's performance, including a discussion on the difference in aerofoil and aircraft shapes. Aircraft stability issues are analyzed, along with the development of a boundary layer over an aerofoil, the changes of air speed and air pressure, and boundary layer separation. Readers will gain a clear understanding of the nature of airflow over aircraft during subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flight. The book emphasizes the connection between operating actions in flight and aerodynamic requirements. The content will be of interest to senior undergraduates studying to obtain their Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)/Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, general aviation and air transport pilots, and aircraft maintenance engineers.

'Masterly' New York Times 'Riveting' Scott Kelly 'Remarkable' The Times When Richard Branson founded Virgin Galactic in 2004, his goal was simple: to offer paying customers a trip to space by the end of the decade. Seventeen years, countless delays, and one catastrophic crash later, his space tourism dream may finally be on the verge of reality. Now, a New Yorker journalist offers the definitive portrait of the adventurers leading the way to the stars. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with Virgin's lead test pilot, Mark Stucky, Test Gods describes the making of a modern astronaut: from starry-eyed youth to NASA, the Air Force, and Virgin Galactic; and through dozens of gruelling test flights to his first successful trip beyond the earth's atmosphere. The result is the most vivid exploration of an astronaut's inner life since Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff. It offers an intimate and unique insight into the new space race.

This long-awaited, physics-first and design-oriented text describes and explains the underlying flow and heat transfer theory of secondary air systems. An applications-oriented focus throughout the book provides the reader with robust solution techniques, state-of-the-art three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodologies, and examples of compressible flow network modeling. It clearly explains elusive concepts of windage, non-isentropic generalized vortex, Ekman boundary layer, rotor disk pumping, and centrifugally-driven buoyant convection associated with gas turbine secondary flow systems featuring rotation. The book employs physics-based, design-oriented methodology to compute windage and swirl distributions in a complex rotor cavity formed by surfaces with arbitrary rotation, counter-rotation, and no rotation. This text will be a valuable tool for aircraft engine and industrial gas turbine design engineers as well as graduate students enrolled in advanced special topics courses.

In the multi-disciplinary field of wind energy, students and professionals can often be uncomfortable outside their own specialist areas. This essential textbook explains the key aspects of wind turbine technology and its application in a single readable text. Covering a broad range of multi-disciplinary topics, including everything from aerodynamics through to electrical and control theory, to structures, planning, economics, and policy, this reference is an excellent toolkit for undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and professionals in the field of wind energy. Key concepts, including more challenging ones such as rotational sampling of turbulence, vortex wake structures, and reactive power management, are explained using clear language and simplifying illustrations including experimental graphs, photos, and line drawings.

A noted space expert explains the current revolution in spaceflight, where it leads, and why we need it.A new space race has begun. But the rivals in this case are not superpowers but competing entrepreneurs. These daring pioneers are creating a revolution in spaceflight that promises to transform the near future. Astronautical engineer Robert Zubrin spells out the potential of these new developments in an engrossing narrative that is visionary yet grounded by a deep understanding of the practical challenges.Fueled by the combined expertise of the old aerospace industry and the talents of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, spaceflight is becoming cheaper. The new generation of space explorers has already achieved a major breakthrough by creating reusable rockets. Zubrin foresees more rapid innovation, including global travel from any point on Earth to another in an hour or less; orbital hotels; moon bases with incredible space observatories; human settlements on Mars, the asteroids, and the moons of the outer planets; and then, breaking all limits, pushing onward to the stars.Zubrin shows how projects that sound like science fiction can actually become reality. But beyond the how, he makes an even more compelling case for why we need to do this--to increase our knowledge of the universe, to make unforeseen discoveries on new frontiers, to harness the natural resources of other planets, to safeguard Earth from stray asteroids, to ensure the future of humanity by expanding beyond its home base, and to protect us from being catastrophically set against each other by the false belief that there isn't enough for all.

Aircraft Systems Classifications Enables aerospace professionals to quickly and accurately reference key information about all types of aircraft systems Aircraft Systems Classifications: A Handbook of Characteristics and Design Guidelines provides comprehensive information on aircraft systems delivered in a concise, direct, and standardized way, allowing readers to easily find the information they need. The book presents a full set of characteristics and requirements for all types of aircraft systems, including avionic, mission, and supporting ground systems, in a single volume. Readers can delve further into specific topics by referencing the detailed glossary and bibliography. To aid in reader comprehension, each aircraft system is broken down according to various criteria, such as: Purpose, description, and safety Integration with other systems Key interfaces and design drivers Modeling and simulation Best practices and future trends Written for aerospace professionals, researchers, and advanced students with some existing knowledge of the aircraft industry, this book allows readers to quickly reference information on every aspect of aircraft systems.

When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986, millions of Americans became bound together in a single, historic moment. Many still vividly remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard about the tragedy. Diane Vaughan recreates the steps leading up to that fateful decision, contradicting conventional interpretations to prove that what occurred at NASA was not skullduggery or misconduct but a disastrous mistake. Why did NASA managers, who not only had all the information prior to the launch but also were warned against it, decide to proceed? In retelling how the decision unfolded through the eyes of the managers and the engineers, Vaughan uncovers an incremental descent into poor judgment, supported by a culture of high-risk technology. She reveals how and why NASA insiders, when repeatedly faced with evidence that something was wrong, normalized the deviance so that it became acceptable to them. In a new preface, Vaughan reveals the ramifications for this book and for her when a similar decision-making process brought down NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Introduction to Flight Testing Introduction to Flight Testing Provides an introduction to the basic flight testing methods employed on general aviation aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles Introduction to Flight Testing provides a concise introduction to the basic flight testing methods employed on general aviation aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles for courses in aeronautical engineering. There is particular emphasis on the use of modern on-board instruments and inexpensive, off-the-shelf portable devices that make flight testing accessible to nearly any student. This text presents a clear articulation of standard methods for measuring aircraft performance characteristics. Topics covered include aircraft and instruments, digital data acquisition techniques, flight test planning, the standard atmosphere, uncertainty analysis, level flight performance, airspeed calibration, stall, climb and glide, take-off and landing, level turn, static and dynamic longitudinal stability, lateral-directional stability, and flight testing of unmanned aircraft systems. Unique to this book is a detailed discussion of digital data acquisition (DAQ) techniques, which are an integral part of modern flight test programs. This treatment includes discussion of the analog-to-digital conversion, sample rate, aliasing, and filtering. These critical details provide the flight test engineer with the insight needed to understand the capabilities and limitations of digital DAQ. Key features: Provides an introduction to the basic flight testing methods and instrumentation employed on general aviation aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Includes examples of flight testing on general aviation aircraft such as Cirrus, Diamond, and Cessna aircraft, along with unmanned aircraft vehicles. Suitable for courses on Aircraft Flight Test Engineering. Introduction to Flight Testing provides resources and guidance for practitioners in the rapidly-developing field of drone performance flight test and the general aviation flight test community.

Approx.190 pages

The first book to focus on the communications and networking aspects of UAVs, this unique resource provides the fundamental knowledge needed to pursue research in the field. The team of authors covers the foundational concepts of the topic, as well as offering a detailed insight into the state of the art in UAVs and UAV networks, discussing the regulations, policies, and procedures for deployment (including analysis of risks and rewards), along with demonstrations, test-beds, and practical real-world applications in areas such as wildlife detection and emergency communications. This is essential reading for graduate students, researchers, and professionals in communications and networking.

Electro hydraulic Control Theory and Its Applications under Extreme Environment not only presents an overview on the topic, but also delves into the fundamental mathematic models of electro hydraulic control and the application of key hydraulic components under extreme environments. The book contains chapters on hydraulic system design, including thermal analysis on hydraulic power systems in aircraft, power matching designs of hydraulic rudder, and flow matching control of asymmetric valves and cylinders. With additional coverage on new devices, experiments and application technologies, this book is an ideal reference on the research and development of significant equipment.

Airline Management Finance: The Essentials is of significant benefit to airline industry practitioners seeking a focused, neatly contained and accessible resource that provides explicit financial information pertinent to their current or future role. The book explains and demystifies an airline's financing and the financial reporting of its operations to airline staff and others. It seeks to explain the role of finance and the Finance Department in a non-technical way, so staff can appreciate the value of the department and its information resources, and see finance as an active contributor to the airline's operation. It concentrates on practical matters, explaining frequently used financial and accounting terms, how financial strategy works, the uses of various types of financial reporting, as well as what financial risk is and how it can be managed through the co-operation of finance and operating staff. Staff who understand the airline's finances and financial system are more likely to make decisions which align with the airline's strategy and objectives. They will also know how to use the financial information which is available. The book establishes a good foundation of financial knowledge for all staff. This book is recommended reading for new employees in airline finance and related areas, as well as those starting to move up the supervisory ladder in an airline.

This textbook provides a detailed overview of industry-specific business management and technology management practices in aerospace for relevant bachelors and MBA programs. The Aerospace Business: Management and Technology sequentially addresses familiar management disciplines such as production management, labor relations, program management, business law, quality assurance, engineering management, supply-chain management, marketing, and finance, among others. In this context it analyzes and discusses the distinctive perspective and requirements of the aerospace industry. The book also includes subjects of special interest such as government intervention in the sector and strategies to deal with the environmental impact of aircraft. As each chapter deals with a separate management discipline, the material reviews the historical background, technical peculiarities, and financial factors that led the aerospace industry to evolve its own distinct practices and tradition. Theoretical bases of the practices are explained, and the chapters provide actual examples from the industry to illustrate application of the theories. The material is compiled, organized, and analyzed in ways that often provide original perspectives of the subject matter. University students, particularly in programs oriented towards aviation and aerospace management, will find the book to be directly applicable to their studies. It is also extremely appropriate for aerospace MBA and executive MBA programs, and would suit specialized corporate or government training programs related to aerospace.

One of the most exhilarating true adventures in history, the race into space was marked by courage, duplicity, political paranoia, astonishing technological feats, and unbelievable triumphs in the face of overwhelming adversity. It is the story of an unparalleled rivalry between superpowers and of the two remarkable men at the center of the conflict. On the American side was Wernher von Braun, the camera-friendly former Nazi scientist, who was granted hero status and almost unlimited resources by a government panicked at the thought of the Cold War enemy taking the lead. The Soviet program was headed by Sergei Korolev, a former political prisoner whose identity was a closely guarded state secret. Korolev was expected to--and did--work miracles on a shoestring budget, his cooperation assured through intimidation and threats of possible disgrace or death. These rivals were opposite in every way, save for one: each was obsessed with the idea of launching a man to the Moon.

Deborah Cadbury's extraordinary history combines action and suspense with a moving portrayal of the space race's human dimension. Using source materials never before available, she tells a riveting story of the espionage, ambition, ingenuity, and passion behind humankind's mind-bending voyage beyond the bounds of Earth.

This current and comprehensive book provides an updated treatment of molecular gas dynamics topics for aerospace engineers, or anyone researching high-temperature gas flows for hypersonic vehicles and propulsion systems. It demonstrates how the areas of quantum mechanics, kinetic theory, and statistical mechanics can combine in order to facilitate the study of nonequilibrium processes of internal energy relaxation and chemistry. All of these theoretical ideas are used to explain the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, a numerical technique based on molecular simulation. Because this text provides comprehensive coverage of the physical models available for use in the DSMC method, in addition to the equations and algorithms required to implement the DSMC numerical method, readers will learn to solve nonequilibrium flow problems and perform computer simulations, and obtain a more complete understanding of various physical modeling options for DSMC than is available in other texts.

This book describes the future of the Artemis Lunar Program from the years 2017 to about 2030. Despite the uncertainty of the times and the present state of space exploration, it is likely that what is presented in this book will actually happen, to one degree or another. As history has taught us, predictions are often difficult, but one can see enough into the future to be somewhat accurate. As the Bible says, "Wesee thru the glass, but darkly." All of the elements of the proposed program are described from several perspectives: NASA's, the commercial space industry and our International partners. Also included are descriptions of the many vehicles, habitats, landers, payloads and experiments. The book tells the story of the buildup of a very small space station in a strange new lunar orbit and the descent of payloads and humans, including the first women and next man, to the lunar surface with the intent to evolve a sustained presence over time.

This short book grapples with two vast questions: the nature of our minds, and our place in the wider universe. It considers how one mutually influences the development of the other. The changes and challenges that will accompany the first humans to leave Earth and travel to another planet, or even further, will not only impact our technical capabilities, but will also represent a watershed moment within our individual and collective human psychology. Many of the problems of resource use, environmental degradation, and waste or destructive processes are contained in the larger process of exploring another environment and planet. But This book also offers a shift in perspective that allows us to consider humanity from an alternative, more holistic perspective, reappraising our own minds both individually and within dynamic social processes. The Psychology of Space Exploration considers our place and purpose in the widest possible perspective, that of space exploration and the natural universe. It doesn't seek to answer these questions, but provides a perspective to explore even further.

This design guide was written to capture the author's practical experience of designing, building and testing multi-rotor drone systems over the past decade. The lack of one single source of useful information meant that the past 10 years has been a steep learning curve, a lot of self-tuition and many trial and error tests. Lessons learnt the hard way are not always the best way to learn. This book will be useful for the amateur drone pilot who wants to build their own system from first principles, as well as the academic researcher investigating novel design concepts and future drone applications.

Energy Efficiency in Air Transportation explores the relationship between air transportation and energy use, starting with an analysis of air transport energy sources and their potential development. The book examines how different elements of the air transport system make use of energy, with an analysis of various methods for optimizing energy consumption. The book covers the consequences of energy use in terms of economics, environmental impact and sustainable development, with a review of the existing and proposed regulatory measures addressing those factors. Aeronautical and air transport engineers interested in aerial vehicle systems design, as well as public administrators and regulators concerned with energy efficiency or environmental issues in air transport, will benefit greatly from this comprehensive reference, which captures necessary background information along with the newest developments in the field.

First published in 1942, as the second edition of a 1941 original, this book was intended to supply a course of mathematical instruction for the Air Training Corps Cadets during the Second World War. The text provides a cursory review of mathematical basics, then goes on to demonstrate the practical applications of those basics to 'the many and varied problems and interests of the Services'. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of education in the military during the Second World War.

Electric Aircraft Dynamics: A Systems Engineering Approach surveys engineering sciences that underpin the dynamics, control, monitoring, and design of electric propulsion systems for aircraft. It is structured to appeal to readers with a science and engineering background and is modular in format. The closely linked chapters present descriptive material and relevant mathematical modeling techniques. Taken as a whole, this ground-breaking text equips professional and student readers with a solid foundation for advanced work in this emerging field. Key Features: Provides the first systems-based overview of this emerging aerospace technology Surveys low-weight battery technologies and their use in electric aircraft propulsion Explores the design and use of plasma actuation for boundary layer and flow control Considers the integrated design of electric motor-driven propellers Includes PowerPoint slides for instructors using the text for classes Dr. Ranjan Vepa earned his PhD in applied mechanics from Stanford University, California. He currently serves as a lecturer in the School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, where he has also been the programme director of the Avionics Programme since 2001. Dr. Vepa is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, London; the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), New York; a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; a member of the Royal Institute of Navigation, London; and a chartered engineer.