Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Aerodynamics (Hybrid)

AVTN 3250-30Y

Course: AVTN 3250-30Y
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: AVTN
CRN: 31877

Course Description

Practical application of the laws of physics relating to aerodynamics in flight. Specific topics covered include the forces of flight; weight and balance; stability and control; calculation of stall speed; fundamentals of low, transonic, and supersonic flight; aircraft design and testing; aircraft performance requirements; performance of aircraft powered by reciprocating, turboprop, and jet turbine engines; special flight conditions often experienced by commercial pilots of fixed-wing aircraft; and changes in configuration.

Required Texts

Required Text: Anderson, David F., & Eberhardt, Scott. (2010). Understanding Flight (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-162696-5.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course students will be able to discuss, explain, and demonstrate:

  • the aerodynamic principles and their application to piloting a fixed wing or a rotary wing aircraft.
  • the four forces of flight and any of the aerodynamic principles associated with the four forces of flight.
  • Bernoulli’s Principle and other laws associated with the generation of lift.
  • the lift equation and the effects of the elements that comprise the lift equation.
  • the basic aerodynamic principles associated with the stability and controllability of both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.
  • lateral, longitudinal, and directional stabilities with their appropriate axes and the aerodynamic principles that define those stabilities.
  • static and dynamic elements of aircraft stability.
  • high speed flight, high lift devices, center-of-pressure, planforms, vortex generators, wake vortices, load factor, and the V-g diagram.

Course Requirements

Grades

Student performance in the course will be measured by four (4) discussion questions, three (3) quizzes, one (1) course paper, and one (1) final exam.

Discussion Questions

The four (4) discussion questions combined are worth 30% of the course grade (75 points each). Each student will post one (1) original response to the question and post one (1) response each to each of two (2) different fellow student’s original responses to the discussion question (which two is your choice).

The goal is to have an active and timely discussion. Postings made after the assignment deadline will not be counted for a grade.

I expect substantive comments that indicate that you have given some thought to the issue(s). Grading rubric: grammar - 10 points, content - 65 points.

Quizzes

The three (3) quizzes combined are worth 30% of the course grade (100 points each). Each quiz will involve answering multiple choice and/or short answer questions on the material covered.

Research Paper

The research paper (1) is worth 20% of the course grade (200 points). The topic of the paper may be an issue of your choice.

The paper (1) must be eight (8) pages typed and double spaced (not including a Title Page or a References page) with at least five (5) cited references in addition to the course text. Grading rubric: grammar - 20 points, citations - 20 points, content - 160 points.

Final Exam

The final exam (1) is worth 20% of the course grade (200 points). The final exam will involve answering multiple choice and/or short answer type questions. The final exam will cover the entire course.

Grading System
4 Discussion Questions30%300 points (75 points each)
3 Quizzes30%300 points (100 points each)
1 Research Paper20%200 points
Final Exam20%200 points
Total100%1000 points

Letter grades will be calculated as follows:
93.5% and above=A 82.5-86.5%=B 72.5-76.5%=C 60-66.5%=D
89.5-93.5%=A- 79.5-82.5%=B- 69.5-72.5%=C- below 60%=F
86.5-89.5%=B+ 76.5-79.5%=C+ 66.5-69.5%=D+

Course Outline

WeekTopics / Readings / Assessments
Week 1Student and Instructor Introductions; Syllabus Review; Attendance Quiz; What is Aerodynamics? Lift, Newton’s Laws, Downwash, Angle of Attack, Power, Power Curve; Introduction and Pages 1 - 26
Week 2Drag, Wing Efficiency, Wing Vortices, Circulation, Ground Effect, Lift on a Sail; Pages 26 - 40
Week 3Airfoil Selection, Angle of Incidence, Wing Thickness, Leading Edge and Camber, Wing Planforms, Wing Loading, Aspect Ratio, Wing Taper, Wing Twist; Pages 41 – 56; Discussion Question #1
Week 4Dihedral, High Wing vs Low Wing, Wingtip Designs, Winglets, Canards, Boundary Layer, Form Drag, Vortex Generators, High-Lift Devices, Flaps, Slots and Slats, Deflected Slipstream and Jet Wash; Pages 56 - 84; Quiz #1
Week 5Static Stability, Longitudinal Stability and Balance, Horizontal Stabilizer, Trim, Flying Wings, Directional Stability, Dynamic Stability, Phugoid Motion, Dutch Roll, Spiral Instability, Stability Augmentation, Handling, Fly-by-Wire; Pages 85 - 102; Discussion Question #2
Week 6Propulsion, Newton (again), Thrust, Power, Efficiency, Propellers, Propeller Pitch, Propeller Efficiency, Piston Engines, Turbine Engines, Compressor, Axial-Flow Compressor, Multistage Compressor, Centrifugal Compressor, Burner Section, Turbine Section; Pages 103 - 125; Quiz #2
Week 7Turbojet, Jet Engine Power and Efficiency, Turbofan, Turboprop Engine, Thrust Reversers, Thrust Vectoring, Afterburners, Mach Number, Compressible Air, Shock Waves, Wave Drag and Power; Pages 125 - 146; Discussion Question #3
Week 8Transonic Flight, Wing Sweep, Area Rule, Hypersonic Flight, Skip Heating, Lift-to-Drag Ratio, Glide; Pages 146 - 165
Week 9Indicated Airspeed, Takeoff Performance, Climb, Ceiling, Fuel Consumption, Maximum Endurance, Maximum Range, Cruise Climb and Efficiency, Turns, Stall Speed Limit, Structural Strength Limit, Power Available Limit, Maneuvering Speed, Standard Rate Turns; Pages 165 - 186; Quiz #3
Week 10Landing, Wind Tunnel Testing, Subsonic Wind Tunnels, Wind Tunnel Data, Forces, Pressures, Flow Visualization, Tail On and Tail Off, Supersonic Venturis, Supersonic Wind Tunnels, Rocket Motors, Hypersonic testing,; Pages 186 - 210; Discussion Question #4
Week 11Flight Testing, Flight Instrument Calibration, Standard Day, Power Required, Takeoff and Landing, Climbing and Turning, Flight Test Accidents, Helicopters and Auto Gyros, The Rotor, Tip Path Plane, Flapping, Feathering, Lead Lag; Pages 210 - 226
Week 12Rotor Controls, Swashplate, Gyroscopic Procession, Tail Rotor, Helicopter Flight, Lift Asymmetry, Balancing of Forces, Retreating Blade Stall, The Power Curve, Ground Effect, Running Takeoff, Lift Efficiency, Autorotation, Vertical Autorotation, Forward Autorotation and Landing, Height-Velocity Diagram, Auto Gyros; Pages 226 - 248
Week 13Structures, Wings and Bridges, The Wing Box, Composites, Shear, Fatigue, Airplane terminology, Airfoils and Wings, Axes of Control, The Turn, The Four Forces, Mach Number, Kinetic Energy, Air Pressure, The Pitot Tube; Pages 249 - 274
Course Paper Due
Week 14Bernoulli; Pages 275 - 281; Final Exam

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

I am expecting that all course work will be submitted on time per the course schedule under the Canvas HOME tab.

Occasionally things do come up that are unexpected.

In the event that life throws you a curve, I expect to be contacted BEFORE the assignment due date to discuss the issue.

Work that is submitted up to a week late with no discussion prior to the due date will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the possible points.

Work that is submitted more than a week late will be awarded no points.

Attendance Policy

This course is asynchronous online with three in-person classroom sessions.

This is a hybrid course (online and in-person) that will meet in-person three times during the semester. These in-person classroom sessions are not mandatory. They are for your benefit. Discussions can be around topics related to this course or on any aviation topic you have an interest in discussing. Nothing that is not in the course syllabus that is discussed will be on any exam.

Course Fees

There is no course fee for this class.

Additional Course Policies and References

Online Course Netiquette and Discussion Expectations

During this course you will have the opportunity to view and comment on several discussion board posts. Making these comments is an integral part of the learning process. Please keep these requirements in mind during any postings made during this course: Respect, Integrity, and Professionalism. Please note that any posting that is deemed inappropriate by the instructor WILL BE DELETED.

Some Thoughts on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

I have been experimenting a bit with using AI for aviation topics. My experience so far has been that it is marginal for use in academic aviation applications. The results I have had indicate that the results that AI produces on aviation topics are very often ambiguous, incomplete, inaccurate, and sometimes technically incorrect. When you turn in work for an SUU aviation class, your work is reflective of your understanding of the topic, your ability to apply that understanding, and your ability to communicate that understanding. If the work you submit is excellent, you own it. If the work you submit is ambiguous, incomplete, inaccurate, and sometimes technically incorrect - as I have found AI to be on aviation topics - you own that too.

Suggested Reference

Hurt, H. H. (1965). Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators (revised ed.). Download from: http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/00-80T-80.pdf

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.