Flight stability and automatic control is a textbook for senior undergraduate or first-year graduate students studying aircraft flight dynamics. It covers static stability, aircraft equations of motion, dynamic stability, flying qualities, automatic control theory, and the application of control theory to the synthesis of automatic flight control systems. The book is divided into three parts: the first part discusses atmospheric properties, static stability and control concepts, aircraft equations of motion, and aerodynamic modeling of the airplane; the second part examines aircraft motions due to control inputs or atmospheric disturbances; the third part is devoted to aircraft autopilots. Although no specific chapters are devoted entirely to performance or aeroelasticity, the book shows how performance specifications and aeroelastic phenomena influence aircraft stability and control characteristics. The book begins with an introduction to atmospheric flight mechanics, covering performance, flight dynamics, and aeroelasticity. It then discusses basic definitions, including fluid properties, pressure, temperature, density, viscosity, and the Mach number. The book then explores aerostatics, the behavior of fluids at rest, and the development of Bernoulli's equation, which relates pressure, elevation, and velocity of the flow along a stream tube. The atmosphere is discussed in detail, including its composition, temperature profile, and properties at different altitudes. The book also covers the application of Bernoulli's equation to compressible fluids and the effects of compressibility on aerodynamic performance. The book then moves on to discuss the properties of the atmosphere, including the standard atmosphere, and the definitions of altitude, including absolute, geometric, and geopotential altitudes. The book also discusses the development of the standard atmosphere, including the temperature profile and the properties of air at sea level. The book includes an example problem that calculates the pressure and density at a given altitude based on the temperature profile. The book is structured into chapters that cover the topics of static stability and control, aircraft equations of motion, longitudinal and lateral motion, aircraft response to control or atmospheric inputs, automatic control theory, and the application of classical and modern control theory to aircraft autopilot design. The book also includes appendices that provide additional data on airplane aerodynamic, mass, and geometric characteristics, as well as a review of mathematical techniques used in the text. The book is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of flight stability and automatic control for students and professionals in the field of aerospace engineering.Flight stability and automatic control is a textbook for senior undergraduate or first-year graduate students studying aircraft flight dynamics. It covers static stability, aircraft equations of motion, dynamic stability, flying qualities, automatic control theory, and the application of control theory to the synthesis of automatic flight control systems. The book is divided into three parts: the first part discusses atmospheric properties, static stability and control concepts, aircraft equations of motion, and aerodynamic modeling of the airplane; the second part examines aircraft motions due to control inputs or atmospheric disturbances; the third part is devoted to aircraft autopilots. Although no specific chapters are devoted entirely to performance or aeroelasticity, the book shows how performance specifications and aeroelastic phenomena influence aircraft stability and control characteristics. The book begins with an introduction to atmospheric flight mechanics, covering performance, flight dynamics, and aeroelasticity. It then discusses basic definitions, including fluid properties, pressure, temperature, density, viscosity, and the Mach number. The book then explores aerostatics, the behavior of fluids at rest, and the development of Bernoulli's equation, which relates pressure, elevation, and velocity of the flow along a stream tube. The atmosphere is discussed in detail, including its composition, temperature profile, and properties at different altitudes. The book also covers the application of Bernoulli's equation to compressible fluids and the effects of compressibility on aerodynamic performance. The book then moves on to discuss the properties of the atmosphere, including the standard atmosphere, and the definitions of altitude, including absolute, geometric, and geopotential altitudes. The book also discusses the development of the standard atmosphere, including the temperature profile and the properties of air at sea level. The book includes an example problem that calculates the pressure and density at a given altitude based on the temperature profile. The book is structured into chapters that cover the topics of static stability and control, aircraft equations of motion, longitudinal and lateral motion, aircraft response to control or atmospheric inputs, automatic control theory, and the application of classical and modern control theory to aircraft autopilot design. The book also includes appendices that provide additional data on airplane aerodynamic, mass, and geometric characteristics, as well as a review of mathematical techniques used in the text. The book is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of flight stability and automatic control for students and professionals in the field of aerospace engineering.