Article
Article
Flight characteristics
Article By:
Roskam, Jan Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
Last reviewed:November 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.260800
The behavior of an aircraft while airborne. An aircraft, while in the air, is free to move in six degrees of freedom (Fig. 1). The aircraft can translate along any of its three axes, X, Y, and Z. The corresponding translational velocities are identified as U (forward velocity), V (side velocity), and W (up or down velocity), respectively. In addition, the aircraft can rotate about any of its three axes, X, Y, and Z. The corresponding rotational velocities are labeled as P (roll rate), Q (pitch rate), and R (yaw rate) respectively. See also: Degree of freedom (mechanics)
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