Applied Flight Performance & Control: Theory to Simulation

Master flight dynamics and mission profile analysis using industry-standard tools. Build your own simulation framework.

What you’ll learn
✓ Master the fundamental physics governing aircraft flight mechanics and performance.
✓ Derive and apply the Equations of Motion (EoM) for fixed-wing aircraft.
✓ Evaluate performance metrics for the entire mission profile: Take-off, Climb, Cruise, Descent, and Landing.
✓ Develop a modular 3-DoF flight simulation framework with Autopilot logic (PID) using MATLAB
✓ Generate aerodynamic and propulsion datasets using OpenVSP and GasTurb for realistic analysis.

Requirements
● Basic knowledge of calculus and physics.
● Basic understanding of aerodynamics and flight mechanics terminology
● A computer with MATLAB installed (any recent version will work)
● Basic familiarity with MATLAB interface is helpful, but not mandatory.

Description
Stop solving textbook equations and start simulating real-world aircraft missions!

In this course, we bridge the gap between theoretical flight mechanics and modern engineering simulation. Designed for engineering students and aviation enthusiasts, this course guides you through the complete process of Aircraft Design & Analysis using a powerful trio of tools: OpenVSP, GasTurb, and MATLAB.

You won’t just watch; you will build. We will take a real-world supersonic trainer (inspired by the Northrop T-38) as our case study and simulate its entire mission profile from the ground up.

What you will learn

• Geometric Modeling: How to model aircraft geometry and export aerodynamic stability data using OpenVSP.

• Propulsion Analysis: Understanding engine maps, thrust tables, and fuel consumption behaviors using GasTurb.

• Dynamic Mission Simulation: Bringing it all together in MATLAB to build a 3-DoF physics engine that simulates Takeoff, Climb, Cruise, Descent, and Landing.

• Flight Control Systems: How to design and tune PID Autopilots for Altitude Hold, Auto-Throttle, and Automatic Landing (Flare).

• Modular Design: How to create a flexible, professional-grade code framework that you can adapt for future aircraft projects.

Why this course? As an Aeronautical Engineer, I know that university theory often feels disconnected from practical application. Most courses teach you how to calculate Lift, but few show you how to code a simulator that flies. By the end of this course, you will have a working MATLAB framework capable of simulating complex flight missions with autopilot logic.

Who this course is for
■ Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering students (Undergraduate & Graduate)
■ Engineers who want to enhance their skills in flight performance analysis and simulation.
■ Students who want to learn how to apply MATLAB to real-world engineering problems.
■ Aviation enthusiasts passionate about understanding the physics behind aircraft motion.