Angelo Miele, Flight Mechanics, Vol. 1, Theory of Flight Paths, Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1962. Paul Gelhausen says this is the classic text and I guess I have to agree. I have used it a lot, but found it a little hard to get practical considerations from this book. In many respects Hale has added the practical considerations in his book,which is listed below. This includes using the notation that L/Dmax is E.
J. Williams, editor, "Aircraft Performance - Prediction Methods and Optimization," AGARD Lecture Series LS-56, 1972. This is another recommendation by Paul Gelhausen. I have a copy, and have found it a good reference.
Richard S. Shevell, Fundamentals of Flight, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1983. A more recent edition is available. The performance chapter of this book is excellent for modern jet transport aircraft.
Sidney A. Powers, BASIC Aircraft Performance Analysis, KERN International, Inc., 575 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA 02359, (617) 826-0095, 1984 This book includes a computer program. Its strengths are mission analysis (not described in academic books) and operating envelopes, sustained maneuverability calculations. Landing and takeoff is not included. The source code is provided, and a version that runs in QuickBASIC on a Macintosh is also available at VPI.
Francis J. Hale, Introduction to Aircraft Performance, Selection and Design, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1984. This book is primarily for performance, and possibly best used as a reference. It has examples, including a comparision of range calculated under a variety of assumptions.
G.J.J. Ruijgrok, Elements of Airplane Performance, Delft University Press, Delft, 1990. This is a reasonably good modern treatment.
Joop Wagenmakers, Aircraft Performance Engineering : guidelines from an aircraft performance engineer, Prentice Hall, New York, 1991. A very good description of practical performance by the former head of performance for KLM.
W. Austyn Mair and David L. Birdsall, Aircraft Performance, Cambridge Aerospace Series 5, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1992.
see also the books by Loftin, Nicolai and Torenbeek for useful information
return to the table of contents ?
direct comments and suggestions to W.H. Mason, mason@aoe.vt.edu