Climb

PERFORMANCE
By-Sharon Abraham
 Introduction
• One of the most important aspects of aircraft
performance is the ability to climb.
Cruise / En-route
Climb
Descend
Approach
Ta k e - o ff & Landing

• CLIMB starts after take off and it ends when aircraft

levels off at the cruising level.
 Climb Gradient/Angle of climb

• For the first portion of the climb it is more important

to consider the climb gradient or angle of climb.

• Why ??

Climb gradient or angle of climb is important to

ensure aircraft overfly the obstacles in the departure
area at a safe altitude.
It is defined as minimum obstacle clearance.
Climb Gradient

• The climb gradient by definition is the ratio

of height gained to the horizontal distance
traveled by aircraft.

Climb gradient = (THRUST - DRAG) / WEIGHT

EXCESS THRUST
Angle of climb

• The angle of climb is the angle between height

gained to the horizontal distance traveled by aircraft
during climb.

Angle of climb ,   sin 1 (THRUST - DRAG) / WEIGHT

• Climb needs excess thrust (thrust minus drag).
• This excess thrust is needed to overcome drag.
Rate of Climb (ROC).

• Rate of climb vertical component of the speed

{feet per minute}.
• Airspeed (V)
• Angle of climb / Climb gradient.
= V x Climb gradient = V x (Thrust – Drag) / Weight
• Best rate of climb is important to ensure aircraft
reach required altitude in the minimum time.
Three types of climb
 Two Airspeed during climb
• There are two airspeeds relating to climb performance which are, Vx
and Vy.
a) Vx is the indicated airspeed for best angle of climb.
b) Vy is the indicated airspeed for best rate of climb.

• Best Angle of Climb Speed (Vx)

• Gain maximum altitude in shortest distance
• Best Rate of Climb Speed (VY )
• Gain maximum altitude in shortest time
• Best angle-of climb airspeed (Vx) is considerably lower than best rate
of climb (VY ).
Best V x or Best VY

• For each climb the pilot must determine whether it is

more important to climb at the steepest angle (best Vx)
to clear obstacles, or at the fastest rate (best Vy).
• POWER = Force × Distance/Time
Example

• F-16 fighter aircraft, for example, according to the

Lockheed Martin Corporation, climbs at 50,000 feet
per minute at sea level.

An F-15 Eagle climbing and releasing

flares.
 Factors Affecting the
Climb performance (Climb Angle and
Rate of Climb)
Speed and
Acceleration
Aircraft
Mass
Temperature
& Air Density

Wind

Retraction of flap
and landing gear

Cabin Pressurization
 WIND
• Headwind or tailwind will have affect on the aircraft’s
ground speed.
• Headwind will reduce the ground speed and therefore
reduce the horizontal distance.
• Headwind gives increased climb angle
• Tailwind affects in opposite direction and gives reduced
climb angle.
• Crosswind component has no effect on the climb
gradient.
WIND HAS NO AFFECT ON THE RATE OF CLIMB
 Retraction of flap and landing gear
• When the flap and landing gears are retracted, the
drag is reduced, resulting in an increase in excess
thrust, therefore the rate of climb is increased.
 Cabin pressurization

• Change of cabin pressure is proportional to the

change of the ambient pressure,
• in order to control the structural stress on the fuselage
from the inside.
• This is performed automatically by sophisticated
control system.
 Summary
There are three climbing flight conditions:
1. Steepest climb (best angle of climb)-to clear obstacle
after take-off
2. Fastest climb (best rate of climb)-to reach cruise
altitude with minimum time.
3. Economical climb (less fuel consumption)