Climbing and descending

Question 1

Load factor in level flight

Answer 1

1

Question 2

What does a head wind effect do to flight path angle

Answer 2

It’s steeper

Question 3

What does a tailwind do to Flight path angle

Answer 3

Shallower

Question 4

Underslung engines

Answer 4

Produce a pitching up moment

Question 5

Best angle of climb

Answer 5

Steepest climb angle

Good for avoiding obstacles

Question 6

Best rate of climb

Answer 6

If obstacle clearance isn’t an issue, best rate of climb is good for getting to altitude quickly with a lower flight path angle

Question 7

Flight path angle

Answer 7

angle between the aircraft’s path through the air and the local horizontal.
Gamma

Question 8

Pitching angle/climb angle

Answer 8

AoA plus flight path angle

Question 9

Faster speed in climb

Answer 9

AoA reduces so climb angle reduces

Question 10

Slow speed in a climb

Answer 10

More CL required
AoA increases
Climb angle increases

Question 11

Lift formula using trig

Answer 11

Lift = WcosY

Question 12

Angle of climb formula

Answer 12

SinY = T-D/W

Tells us that a steeper climb angle
Thrust must increase
Drag must reduce
A/c must be lighter

Question 13

Load factor in a climb and descent

Answer 13

CosY

Question 14

WsinY

Answer 14

Component of weight down the climb

Added with drag shows the amount of thrust required to maintain equilibrium

Question 15

Speed for best angle of climb - jet

Answer 15

Vx
Depends on the amount of excess thrust - Vmd has the greatest excess thrust with min drag

So vx = vmd

Question 16

Speed for best angle of climb - propeller

Answer 16

Vmp is vx for a prop
Vx increases for an increase in altitude
Vmp is too slow to fly at

Question 17

Vmp

Answer 17

Speed for min power
Always 76% of vmd
At the back end of the drag curve which is risky

Question 18

Power available

Answer 18

Thrust x TAS

Question 19

Load factor in a steady climb

Answer 19

Less than 1

Question 20

Rule of thumb for climb gradient

Answer 20

3 degrees = 5% gradient

Question 21

Gradient formula

Answer 21

T-D/W x 100

Question 22

Min legal gradient requirement for a twin jet

Answer 22

2.4%

Question 23

Using the max legal requirement gradient for a jet how can you work out the max weight allowed

Answer 23

W = T-D/2.4 x100

Question 24

Descent angle Y

Answer 24

Flight path angle (AoA) plus pitch angle (ø)

Question 25

Excess drag formula in a descent

Answer 25

SinY = D -T/W

Question 26

In a steady descent

Answer 26

Weight is greater than lift

Drag is greater than thrust

Question 27

Load factor in a descent

Answer 27

Less than 1

Question 28

To increase descent angle

Answer 28

Thrust is reduced
Drag will be greater

T = D - WsinY

Question 29

Steady glide

Answer 29

Component of weight must equal lift
Comment of weight in the direction of the glide path must equal drag
Lf is less than 1

Question 30

Best glide range

Answer 30

We want the best speed so Vmd is best glide range

Need to be near Vmo

4 degrees AoA

Question 31

Where is the gradient/ angle of descent the smallest

Answer 31

At the best L/D ratio
Vmd
4 degrees AoA

Question 32

Glide range formula

Answer 32

Height x L/D ratio

Question 33

Does changing the AoA increase glide range

Answer 33

No it reduces it

Question 34

Rate of descent formula

Answer 34

Angle x speed
Also = vmp
Shows that if angle increases speed must decrease

Question 35

Best glide endurance

Answer 35

Vmp

Question 36

Increased weight impact on glide range

Answer 36

No effect in still air

Question 37

Effect of weight/mass on glide endurance

Answer 37

Decrease glide endurance

Question 38

Effect of a dirty config on glide range

Answer 38

Reduce glide range

Question 39

Wind impact on endurance and range

Answer 39

Only effects glide range

Question 40

What is glide endurance all about

Answer 40

Staying airborne for as long as possible

Question 41

The effect of a lower mass on glide duration

Answer 41

Increases glide duration