Aircraft Performance

2 - Formula Overview

Ground drag
Dg = N = (W L)

Cruise Flight

1
2

Mean acceleration (a at

Equations of motion

a
=

W dV
= T D W sin
g dt

(1)

W d
V
= L W cos
g dt

(2)

(10)

2Vlof )

g
g
T DD
W

(11)

Ground phase distance

1 2
V
2
a lof

(12)

2
2
Vscr
Vlof
+ Hscr
2g

(13)

sground =

Kinematics equations
Air phase distance
ds
= V cos ,
dt

dH
= V sin
dt

(3)
scr sair =

Efficiency of jet aircrafts

tot =

V g
TV
Pout
= F =
Pin
c
Hg
T H

Climbing Flight

(4)

Steady rate Of climb

RCst =

Efficiency of propeller aircrafts

tot =

Pout
TV
p g
= F =
Pin
cp H
Hg

(5)

1 d(V 2 )
RCst
=1+
RC
2g dH

Range
V CL
ln
cT CD

(14)

Kinetic correction factor

Range

R=

Pa Pr
T D
V =
= Ps
W
W

(15)

Energy height


W0
W1


=

H
CL
tot
ln
g
CD

Lift coefficient for maximum range

r
1
CD Ae
CL =
3 0

W0
W1


(6)

Eh = H +

W 2 1
2 C
S Vlim
L

(16)

Time derivative of energy height

dEh
T D
=
V = Ps
dt
W

(7)

(17)

Climb Time

Density for maximum range at speed limit

opt =

1 2
V
2g

Climb time to given height

Z tclimb
Z
tclimb =
dt =

(8)

Take-Off

1
dH
RC

Climb time to given energy height

Z tclimb
Z He
1
tclimb =
dt =
dHe
P
s
0
0

Equations of motion
W dV
= T D Dg = T D (W L) (9)
g dt
1

(18)

(19)

Lift coefficient for minimal climb time

p
(20)
CL = 3CD0 Ae


W 
V + V w sin
g

L W cos =

(31)

Kinematics equations
Flight speed for minimal climb time
s
s
2 1 W
2 1 W
V =
,
Ve =
CL S
0 CL S

H = V sin ,

s = V cos Vw

Wind gradients


V dV
V dVw
RC 1 +

= RCst
g dH
g dH

(21)

Landing

Turning Flight

Energy landing equation

 2




Vt2
Va
1
CD

+ Hscr = sair a +
2g
2g
2
CL t
(22)

Turn radius
V2
R=
g n2 1

(32)

(33)

(34)

Turn velocity
Break distance

s
Z

sground =
Vt

Vt2

V dV
=
a
2
a

V =
(23)

2 1 nW
CL S

(35)

Turn power
s

Mean acceleration
a
=

g
D + Dg + Trev
W

Pr = DV =
(24)

2
2 CD
(nW )
3
CL S

(36)

Helicopters
Aircraft Systems

Thrust
T = 2mVi = 2r2 Vi

Air path system

Ea = [] [] [] Ee

Ideal hover power

(25)

s
Moving earth system
T

W
2r2

(38)

cdp
3
(R) R2
8

(39)

Pid = W Vi = W
T

Ee = [] [] [] Ea

(26)

Hover power
Phov =

General Equations of Motion

mV = T D W sin

(27)

mV cos = L sin

(28)

mV = L cos W cos

(29)

(37)

Rotor solidity
=

nRc
R2

(40)

Flight power
Pp = Phov 1 + 2

Effects of Wind
Equations of motion
T D W sin =

(41)

Advance ratio

W 
V V w cos
g

(30)

V cos d
R

(42)