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

4.7
stars
473 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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51 - 75 of 118 Reviews for Flight mechanics - The basis

By Rogers K L

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Feb 22, 2024

The course is super insightful and well structured!

By Abdulmalik A

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Aug 11, 2025

it give me power to learn more about the aircrafts

By ANU S

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Mar 5, 2025

its good, need more additional basic clarification

By ‫عمرو ا ( A

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Oct 19, 2024

Really great introduction to flight mechanics!

By Caroline A

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May 10, 2022

greatest course and teacher too! Thanks a lot

By Saim U

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Nov 25, 2021

thank you very much, it is really great course

By S V P P

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Sep 23, 2024

a really good course.. might prefer to others

By Mesfin S I

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Sep 20, 2022

It is inspiring to learn flight mechanics.

By Huen C Y

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Aug 23, 2025

very beginner-friendly thank you sincerely

By Mohammad N A

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Oct 8, 2024

Amazing Course! Thank you very much ISAE!

By Thulani M

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May 6, 2023

Very informative, l will try another one.

By NANDISH H M R

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Oct 3, 2023

Felt very excited to complete the course

By Syed H S

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Feb 15, 2023

very informative and interesting course

By Jacob U

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Jan 25, 2023

nicecourse with clear understanding

By Imtiyaz R

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Mar 5, 2022

benifical for aeronautical engineers

By Alize K

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May 31, 2024

Basic, and excellent for beginners.

By Helin K

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Sep 22, 2022

Thank you very much for the course!

By Leith S

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Aug 23, 2023

Nice introduction to the basics.

By Suryaansh A

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Apr 30, 2022

Superb faculty, great experience

By Rabbani A

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Jun 27, 2023

Good, simple and understandable

By JUNUET A B V

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May 27, 2023

me encanto, muy completo

By DADIE E A

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Jun 26, 2024

Excellent cours ! Merci

By Fahim F

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Jun 27, 2023

It was a great course.

By Mohammed S

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Feb 23, 2023

هذه دورات ممتازاه جدا

By Akif K

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May 31, 2022

Good Course for Basics