Abstract
One of the most important characteristics of the dynamic behavior of an aircraft is absolute stability—that is, whether the aircraft is stable or unstable. Stability refers to the tendency of an object (here, aircraft) to oppose any disturbance, and to return to its equilibrium state of motion, if disturbed. Stability implies that the forces acting on the aircraft (thrust, weight, and aerodynamic forces) are in initial directions, and will gain new values, that tend to restore the aircraft to its original equilibrium conditions after it has been disturbed (by a wind gust or other forces). The aircraft stability is inherent, and primarily provided by the air vehicle configuration (without pilot or autopilot interference). Inherent stability is not a function of initial trim conditions, it is a function of aircraft parameters such as geometry, weight, and center of gravity location.
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Sadraey, M.H. (2022). Longitudinal Stability. In: Flight Stability and Control. Synthesis Lectures on Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18765-0_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18765-0_3
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