Descent Performance

Question 1

What is glide distance?

Answer 1

The max distance over the ground that an aircraft can travel over the ground from a specified height at a specific airspeed.

Question 2

Would max time airborne be at a slower or faster speed than max range glide?

Answer 2

Slightly slower

Question 3

What is glide ratio?

Answer 3

Ratio of horizontal to vertical distances

Question 4

What is best glide speed?

Answer 4

• IAS at which an aircraft achieves its optimum glide ratio

- Corresponds to optimum angle of attack

Question 5

What is theta?

Answer 5

Glide angle

Question 6

Generally what angle of attack is best L/D achieved?

Answer 6

3 - 4

Question 7

How does a higher or lower AoA than optimum glide distance affect glide range?

Answer 7

It decreases it

Question 8

How does gliding with a tailwind/headwind affect distance travelled?

Answer 8

• Tailwind increases ground distance travelled

- Headwind decreases ground distance travelled

Question 9

Does increase in weight affect the glide distance? Does it affect optimum glide speed?

Answer 9

• No as this is proportional to L/D not the weight

- Changes in weight will change the optimum glide speed however

Question 10

Does configuring reduced or increase the glide distance?

Answer 10

Reduces the distance