PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the linear vibrations of an elastic plate subject to irrotational, incompressible fluid flow bounded by a rigid cylinder.Design/methodology/approachThe plate is placed diametrically in the cylinder and extends along it, both infinite in length. The fluid flow is in the axial direction of the cylinder.FindingsThe problem is solved analytically and the eigenfrequencies are obtained explicitly.Originality/valueThe solution offered in this paper allows investigation of the instabilities and computation of the flutter velocity/minimum flow velocity at which the plate vibrations grow in time.