Climb Performance and Speed

From the plotted graphs of power required and available at given altitudes, various performance
parameters can be obtained:
 maximum flight speed
 maximum rate of climb
 maximum climb angle
 all corresponding speeds

The maximum speed in level flight at a given altitude is simply the speed at which the power available
and required curves intersect.

The maximum rate of climb occurs when the excess power is maximum.

The maximum climb angle occurs when the ratio R.C. / V  is a maximum.
R.C.  V sin 
R.C.
sin  
V
R.C.
  sin 1
V
R.C.
 max  sin 1
V max
In determining the maximum climb angle, care should be taken to make sure that the speed for maximum
climb angle is not less than the stall speed. To find the condition for maximum R.C. / V  draw a straight line
from the origin tangent to the curve.

Activity No. 9
Title: Climb Performance and Speed

Problem: For the airplane described in Activities 7 and 8, determine the maximum speed, the maximum R.C.,
the speed for maximum R.C., the best climb angle and the corresponding flight speed.

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Example No. 1 An airplane weighs 36,000 lb. and has a wing area of 450 ft2. The drag equation is
2
C D  0.014  0.05C L . It is desired to equip this airplane with turboprop engines with available power such that a
maximum speed of 602.6 mph at sea level can be reached. The available power is assumed to be independent of
flight speed. Calculate the maximum rate of climb and the speed at which it occurs.

Given:
W  36,000 lb
S  450 ft 2
2
C D  0.014  0.05C L
Vmax  602.6 mph
THPAV  cons tan t

Required:
Max R.C. and Vmax R.C .
Solution:
At Maximum speed, THPAV = THPREQD .

2W (2)(36,000)
CL   2
 0.086
V 2 S  22 
(0.002377 ) 602.6 x  (450)
 15 
2
C D  0.014  0.05C L  0.014  (0.05)(0.086) 2  0.0144
C  0.0144 
D DW  (36,000)  6,027.91 lb
CL  0.086 
DV (6,027.91)(602.6)
THPAV  THPREQD    9,686.45 hp
375 375
 
 
W  W  2   1 
THPREQDmin     
550  S     C L  
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 2  
  C D  max 
 CL3  3 3Ae  3  3 
 2   Ae   (16)(0.05)  (0.05)(0.014)   245.5

C 
 D  max 16 C D0   
 
 
THPREQDmin 
W  W  2  
  
1    36,000    36,000  2  1  
    1,083.83 hp
550  S      C L    550    450  0.002377  245.5  
3
  2  
  C D  max 
Max EHP (9,686.45  1,083.83)(33,000)
Max R.C.  x 33,000   7,885.74 ft / min
W 36,000

W  2  1  W  2  1 

VMax R.C .         
S    C L  S 
   3AeC D0 


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  
 
 36,000  2  1   271 ft / sec
VMax R.C .    
 450  0.002377   
 3 1 0.014  
  0.05  

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