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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Flight mechanics - The basis by ISAE-SUPAERO

4.7
stars
483 ratings

About the Course

More than one century after the Wright brothers' first flight, the flight still defy our intuition. You will learn here how to name the different parts of the airplane and how to describe and quantify its geometry. For that, we need now to share a precise vocabulary to describe the airplane's movement and attitude in space, and a refresher on basic general mechanic principles. You will remind how Newton's 2nd law allows you to determine what force must be applied on an apple - or on an airplane, to modify the magnitude and direction of its speed. Coming back on the concepts of kinetic energy and potential energy, you will discover the very useful concept of total height and you will be able to explain how an airplane can quickly exchange speed for altitude, while changes in total height are much slower. In the end, you will discover that only a very small number of forces apply on an airplane in flight and that you will be able to classify those that change its energy state and those that modify its trajectory. You will discover the concept of load factor and understand why the pilot of a combat aircraft can feel a weight nine-time greater than his actual weight! Finally, we will establish the lift and propulsion equations, that form the basis of flight mechanics, and you will be able to compute the lift and thrust necessary to follow a given trajectory at a given speed. This course is for anybody interested in learning more about how planes work, the physics of flying, or flight mechanics. It will be of particular interest to undergraduate students in aerospace engineering, trainees as well as senior pilots, journalists, and professionals in the aeronautics sector. Although some mathematical formalism may be present sometimes. It is always doubled by sketches, figures, and hands-explanations. So that, anybody can skip the formulas without losing the core understanding of the concepts. No apples were harmed in the making of this course... This course is only a foretaste of the mechanics of flight. ISAE-SUPAERO and Eric Poquillon will offer you other courses and the first specialization in autumn 2021. Initially, three courses will be published to answer several questions: Can we fly as high as we want? What is a stall? Why do some planes have propellers and others have jet engines? Is an airplane always stable? How do you control an airplane following an engine failure? All this and more will be covered in this series of flight mechanics courses. This course is a part of the specialization "Fundamentals of Flight mechanics"....

Top reviews

JS

Jan 3, 2022

T​he videos were extremely concise, and I felt I really learned a lot from this course. Although I'm 13 years old, I managed to push through with my love for planes.

UK

Sep 3, 2021

THANKS SIR ERIC FOR TEACHING ME AND OTHERS ABOUT THE BASICS PARTS AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT AND ITS MECHANICS. A WARM THANKS .

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101 - 120 of 120 Reviews for Flight mechanics - The basis

By Frenchie F

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Jun 23, 2022

I chose this course because I wanted to challenge myself which it did. The last time I saw the Newton's law was 38 years ago. Even without a background in science, it is possible to follow.

Be aware that you'll need to work at it. I took notes, screenshots, went to the library... It was hard work but it paid off.

I wished that the instructions were more detailed.

I did received a certificate.

By Kanishka J

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Oct 8, 2021

Pros : Concepts were delivered in a nice and concise way. Especially the Energy relations. Cons : Accessing of quizzes on Week3 surely could be improved a lot. The expressions entered marked incorrect even though the expression is correct. As a suggestion probably some symbolic manipulation could be used there to improve the accuracy.

By Angadgaming _

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Apr 8, 2025

For beginners its a great course in the start and middle, but in the ending it might confuse the beginners. As a beginner, loved the course.

By Mohammed H F

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Aug 27, 2022

The course was really good! I would recommend adding a part for modelling these concepts in MATLAB or any similar software.

By Takura M S

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Jan 17, 2022

This course was more challenging than I expected but its a great course thank you Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Peter C

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Jan 10, 2023

A good course, however I could have used a bit of tutoring in Physics, and Algebra.

By Viswanath A 1

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May 20, 2022

it is a great course for beginers to enjoy an learn about basic flight mechanics

By DILEK B

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May 15, 2022

It was awasome. There is some missings in me but now I know them.

Thanks to you.

By V S R

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Oct 21, 2023

All ok but some issues with submitting assessments

By Matloob U H

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Jul 2, 2024

It helped to under stand the basic mechanics.

By Pranav M

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Apr 5, 2025

the videos could have been more better.

By Basim A R

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Sep 26, 2024

good, learn new things

By BIKASH M

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Nov 27, 2024

Very nice course

By Hakim M

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Jun 30, 2024

excellent

By Pktarun K

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Aug 30, 2022

having understood the basics but the contents for practice must be given more, in order to grab a strong understanding.thank you

By Mahmoud A

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Jan 20, 2025

thank you for this course it is very helpful it should be more explanation by animation video

By جمعة ع

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Apr 4, 2025

good

By Alexa B

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Feb 9, 2022

Could barley understand the instructor! had a hard time passing the quizzes

By Oliver v G

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Feb 13, 2025

The lecturers English is very bad, and am unable to understand fully.