A simple, correct pedagogical presentation of airplane lateral-directional dynamics

Abstract

Various shortcomings and inaccuracies in the existing approach and presentation of airplane flight dynamics in pedagogy have been identified. An improved pedagogical presentation is offered which is simple - uses the different timescales in lateral-directional dynamics to cleanly derive roll, dutch roll, and spiral mode parameters, more acceptable - starts with the lateral-directional dynamics equations rather than the complete six degree of freedom formulation, and correct - uses a physically correct model of the dynamic (rate) derivatives and employs the concept of a static residual. The redundant and confusing concepts of dimensional derivatives and static stability are junked following a companion paper using a similar approach to the longitudinal dynamics.