AVS 2102 - Airspeed Measurement 3 – EAS and TAS

Assignment

Read: Airspeed Measurement ANA 9-14.

Airspeed Measurement Homework if assigned Student-

Canvas Quiz – Airspeed Measurement 3

Equivalent airspeed = EAS

EAS = CAS corrected for compressibility errors = CAS + ΔVC

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 At high speeds, air really does change density a little in the pitot tube.

ρ is not constant at high subsonic speeds.

ρ starts to increase in the pitot tube and produces compressibility errors.

*Rule of thumb: Compressibility errors are significant (3-30 knots) above 10,000' and
above 200 KCAS.

Compressibility errors are insignificant below 10,000' and below 200

KCAS.

Stagnation pressure H will be higher than reality due to airflow compression.

H (too high) = p + q (too high)

q (too high)= H (too high) - p (no change)

IAS (and CAS) will be higher than reality (KEAS).

*Airspeed indicators have a built-in compressibility error correction at SL.

At SL, ΔVC = 0 and CAS = EAS.

ANA Figure 1.6, compressibility correction confirms this fact.

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 ΔVC is always equal to or less than zero.

EAS = CAS + ΔVC

EAS < CAS

EAS calculation example:

KIAS = 303
KCAS = 300
PA = 25,000 feet.
ANA Figure 1.6, compressibility correction:

KEAS = ? = CAS + ΔVC = 300 + (-11) = 289 KEAS

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 This says that 300 KCAS at 25,000 feet is the equivalent of 289 KCAS at sea level.
The airplane at 300 KCAS at 25,000 feet will experience the same dynamic pressure
as an airplane at 289 KCAS at sea level.

True airspeed = TAS

TAS = EAS (or CAS if no compressibility error) corrected for density altitude.

Mathematically,

V KTAS
= V KEAS
σ

1
σ density altitude correction factor may be obtained from:

ANA Figure 1-6

E-6B (indirectly) when PA and T are used to convert KCAS to KTAS

Airspeed indicator in airplane (indirectly) if ASI has a KTAS set ring, i.e., set PA
and T on top and read KTAS on outer ring.

(http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/instruments/q0251.shtml)
Very good review of all airspeeds !
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 Figure 1-6 density altitude chart

1
V KTAS
= V KEAS
σ

KTAS calculation example:

KIAS = 303
KCAS = 300
KEAS = 289
PA = 25,000 feet, standard temperature
KTAS = ?
Figure 1-6 density altitude chart

1
σ = 1.494
1
V KTAS
= V KEAS
σ = 432 KTAS.

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 Rule of Thumb for estimating KTAS from KIAS or KCAS.

KTAS increases above KIAS approximately 2%/1,000 feet of MSL altitude.

KTAS = KIAS [1 + (altitude/1000) x 0.02)]

Example:

KCAS = 300
altitude = 25,000 feet
KTAS ≈ 300 [1 + (25,000/1000) x 0.02)] = 450 (actual was 432 KTAS)

Altitude KCAS sqrootsigma 1/sqrootsigma KTAS=KCASx(1/sqrootsigma) % change Actual ROT Difference

0 100 1 1 100 0 0
5 100 0.9283 1.077237962 107.7237962 7.723796 8 10 -2
8 100 0.8866 1.127904354 112.7904354 12.79044 13 16 -3
10 100 0.8593 1.163737926 116.3737926 16.37379 16 20 -4
25 100 0.6694 1.493875112 149.3875112 49.38751 49 50 -1
35 100 0.5567 1.796299623 179.6299623 79.62996 80 70 10

Summary

ICE-T and square root mnemonic

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 Airspeed Measurement Study Questions below

Airspeed Measurement Homework if assigned

Canvas Quiz – Airspeed Measurement 3

Formulas to memorize

V KIAS
= 17.18 q

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 KTAS =
[KIAS + (ΔVi + ΔVm )+ ΔVc]
σ

V KTAS
= V KEAS
σ
EAS Study Questions

1. *Define equivalent airspeed (KEAS) in terms of corrections to calibrated airspeed

(KCAS).

equivalent airspeed is corrected for the compressibility of the air, whereas calibrated airspeed is
corrected for position error.

2. State the rule of thumb for airspeed and altitude below which compressibility errors in
airspeed measurement are negligible and KCAS is approximately equal to KEAS.

3. Given PA = 25,000 feet and KCAS = 300. Find KEAS using text figure 1.6.

4. The compressibility correction chart in figure 1.6 (sheet 1 of 2) shows ΔVc = 0 at sea level
for all airspeeds. Why is this? (Hint: Refer back to the 2 Properties of the Atmosphere
lesson.)

5. T F Compressibility errors in airspeed measurement for airplanes flying above 10,000

feet and above 200 KIAS can be significant and EAS is usually less than CAS.

6. EAS is usually always less than CAS due to the airflow into the pitot tube undergoing a
density change (increase) at high speeds and high altitudes. How does this lead to an
indicated airspeed error? (Hint: Use Bernoulli’s equation.)

True airspeed increases with altitude because air density decreases. An aircrafts wings require to
flow over it to maintain the same amount of lift. This means a wing must move faster through the
air at higher altitudes to maintain the same amount of particles going over the wing.

TAS Study Questions

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7. *Define true airspeed (KTAS) in terms of corrections to equivalent airspeed (KEAS)

8. *Given KEAS = 289 and PA = 25,000 feet. Determine KTAS from text figure 1.6 (sheet 2
of 2). Assume standard atmosphere and therefore standard temperature.

9. *Given KCAS = 300 and PA = 25,000 feet. Determine KTAS using the rule of thumb for
KTAS increase above KCAS with altitude.

10. The correction from EAS to TAS is dependent upon:

a. temperature ratio alone
b. density ratio alone
c. pressure ratio alone
d. none of the above

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