Middle East Technical University

Name Department of Aerospace Engineering

Spring 2010 Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

AE172 MIDTERM EXAM 2 SOLUTIONS

Duration: 120 minutes Saturday, 01/05/2010, 11 am
1. (10 points) For estimating A/C performance average air properties at a given altitude are taken from
standard atmosphere tables, such as the one given in question #6. Explain how these tables are
obtained and explain the variations of temperature (𝑡), pressure (𝑝), and density (𝜌) with altitude (𝑕).
Do not use any equations, or give exact maps of 𝑡 − 𝑕, 𝑝 − 𝑕, and 𝜌 − 𝑕 variations, just describe the
general tendencies.
Standard atmosphere tables give mean variations of temperature, density, pressure, etc. with altitude.
They are obtained by combining experimental data for temperature with simple physics based models
for pressure and density. Experimental data shows that atmosphere is composed of different layers in
terms of temperature variations. Temperature drops linearly from sea level with altitude up to a certain
level. Then there are layers where the temperature stays the same, or even increases. Standard
atmosphere tables approximate experimentally recorded average temperatures with straight line
segments. Variation of pressure with altitude is obtained from a simple physics based equation.
Basically at any altitude the amount of air above that altitude has certain weight and this forms a
pressure. As a result pressure is the greatest at sea level and drops monotonically (that means it always
decreases with altitude, never increases, unlike temperature) and exponentially with altitude. Air
density variation is obtained from the standard gas relation from given temperature and pressure
values. This results in a monotonically decreasing density with altitude.

2. (10 points) Explain thrust required (𝑇𝑅 ), power required (𝑃𝑅 ), thrust available (𝑇𝐴 ), power available (𝑃𝐴 ),
and specific excess power (𝐸𝑃𝑠 ).
Thrust required is the thrust necessary to maintain a steady level flight condition (constant altitude,
speed, angle of attack, …) for an aircraft. It depends on the aerodynamic design of the aircraft and has
nothing to do with the engines. For example for a fighter aircraft with additional appendages (external
fuel tanks, bombs, etc.) 𝑇𝑅 is significantly greater compared to a clean configuration.
Power required is the power required corresponding to the required thrust as explained above.

Lower 𝑇𝑅 and 𝑃𝑅 , higher 𝑇𝑅 and 𝑃𝑅 at any given speed and altitude.

Thrust available is the thrust the engine(s) of an aircraft can produce for a given altitude and throttle
setting. This has nothing to do with the aircraft configuration, it just depends on the engine properties.
An aircraft can be equipped with different engines, they will all have same 𝑇𝑅 and 𝑃𝑅 characteristics, but
may have different 𝑇𝐴 and 𝑃𝐴 characteristics depening on the engines installed. For example a Boeing
777 has several engine options, you can choose from Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and General Electric
engines.
Power available is the power corresponding to the available thrust as explained above.

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

3. a) (5 points) Show that for minimum thrust required for an A/C at steady level flight
𝐶𝐷𝑖 = 𝐶𝐷0
where 𝐶𝐷0 is the zero-lift drag coefficient and 𝐶𝐷𝑖 is the induced drag coefficient that depends on lift.
Thrust required for a steady level flight is equal to aerodynamic drag:
1 2
𝑇𝑅 = 𝜌𝑉 𝑆 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝐾𝐶𝐿2
2
At the same time lift should also be equal to weight:
1 2
𝑊=𝐿= 𝜌𝑉 𝑆𝐶𝐿
2
From the lift equation we pull
1 2 𝑊
𝜌𝑉 𝑆 =
2 𝐶𝐿
and insert into the thrust required equation to get
𝑊
𝑇𝑅 = 𝐶 + 𝐾𝐶𝐿2
𝐶𝐿 𝐷0
𝑊
= 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝑊𝐾𝐶𝐿
𝐶𝐿
We normally plot 𝑇𝑅 as a function of 𝑉, but for steady level flight conditions for every 𝑉 there exists a
unique 𝐶𝐿 and a unique 𝛼. So 𝑇𝑅 can equivalently be plotted as a function of 𝐶𝐿 and 𝛼 and the
minimum of those would give the minimum 𝑇𝑅 condition. The above function is in terms of 𝐶𝐿 , to
find the minimum 𝑇𝑅 condition we need to differentiate it with respect to 𝐶𝐿
𝑑𝑇𝑅 𝑊𝐶𝐷0
=− + 𝑊𝐾 = 0
𝑑𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐿2
This gives
𝐶𝐷0 = 𝐾𝐶𝐿2 = 𝐶𝐷𝑖
b) (5 points) Show that the minimum thrust required does not depend on altitude (𝜌).
Minimum thrust is obtained by inserting the minimum 𝑇𝑅 condition into the 𝑇𝑅 relation. The
minimum 𝑇𝑅 condition can be written as
𝐶𝐷0
𝐶𝐿 =
𝐾

Inserting this into 𝑇𝑅 equation gives

𝑊 𝑊
𝑇𝑅 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝐾𝐶𝐿2 = 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝐶𝐷0 = 2𝑊 𝐾𝐶𝐷0
𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐷0
𝐾
The above relation contains only constants and does not contain 𝜌.

4. a) (5 points) Show that for minimum power required for an A/C at steady level flight
𝐶𝐷𝑖 = 3𝐶𝐷0
where 𝐶𝐷0 is the zero-lift drag coefficient and 𝐶𝐷𝑖 is the induced drag coefficient that depends on lift.
Power required for a steady level flight is equal to aerodynamic drag times speed:

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

1 3
𝑃𝑅 = 𝜌𝑉 𝑆 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝐾𝐶𝐿2
2
At the same time lift should also be equal to weight:
1 2
𝑊=𝐿= 𝜌𝑉 𝑆𝐶𝐿
2
From the lift equation we pull
2𝑊
𝐶𝐿 =
𝜌𝑉 2 𝑆
Inserting this into the 𝑃𝑅 equation gives
1 3 4𝑊 2
𝑃𝑅 = 𝜌𝑉 𝑆 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝐾 2 4 2
2 𝜌 𝑉 𝑆
1 2𝐾𝑊 2
= 𝜌𝑉 3 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 +
2 𝜌𝑉𝑆
This time we have the function in terms of 𝑉. To find the minimum 𝑃𝑅 condition we need to
differentiate it with respect to 𝑉 and equate it to zero
𝑑𝑃𝑅 3 2 2𝐾𝑊 2
= 𝜌𝑉 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 − =0
𝑑𝑉 2 𝜌𝑉 2 𝑆
By manipulating the above equation we can get
4𝐾𝑊 2
𝑉 4 𝐶𝐷0 =
3𝜌2 𝑆 2
From the 𝑊 = 𝐿 equation we can write
4𝑊 2
𝑉4 =
𝜌2 𝑆 2 𝐶𝐿2
Using this in the previous equation gives
3𝐶𝐷0 = 𝐾𝐶𝐿2 = 𝐶𝐷𝑖
b) (5 points) Find the dependence of minimum power required on altitude (𝜌). In other words find 𝑥
such that:
𝑃𝑅 𝑚𝑖𝑛 ∝ 𝜌 𝑥
Minimum power is obtained by inserting the minimum 𝑃𝑅 condition into the 𝑃𝑅 relation. The
minimum 𝑃𝑅 condition can be written as
3𝐶𝐷0
𝐶𝐿 =
𝐾

Inserting this into 𝑊 = 𝐿 equation gives

2𝑊
𝑉2 =
3𝐶𝐷0
𝜌𝑆
𝐾
Inserting above 𝑉 relation into 𝑃𝑅 equation gives
3
2
1 2𝑊
𝑃𝑅 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝜌 𝑆 𝐶𝐷0 + 3𝐶𝐷0
2 3𝐶𝐷0
𝜌𝑆
𝐾

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

3
2
1 1 2𝑊
= 𝑆 𝐶𝐷0 + 3𝐶𝐷0
2 𝜌 3𝐶𝐷0
𝑆
𝐾
Therefore 𝑃𝑅 𝑚𝑖𝑛 is proportional to 𝜌−1 2 .

5. (5 points) Draw the force diagram for a climbing flight and derive the following equation for a general
accelerated climb:
𝑑𝑕 𝑉 𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑃𝑠 = +
𝑑𝑡 𝑔 𝑑𝑡

From the force diagram on the left we can write

𝛾 𝐿 𝑑𝑉 𝑊 𝑑𝑉
𝑇 𝑇 − 𝐷 − 𝑊 sin 𝛾 = 𝑚 =
𝑑𝑡 𝑔 𝑑𝑡
𝛾 Multiplying the above equation by 𝑊 and dividing by 𝑉 gives
𝑇𝑉 − 𝐷𝑉 𝑉 𝑑𝑉
= 𝐸𝑃𝑠 = 𝑉 sin 𝛾 +
𝐷 𝑊 𝑔 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑕
𝑊 Using 𝑉 sin 𝛾 = gives the desired equation
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑕 𝑉 𝑑𝑉
𝐸𝑃𝑠 = +
𝑑𝑡 𝑔 𝑑𝑡

6. Consider a jet A/C with the following properties:

𝑆 = 29.54 𝑚2 𝐶𝐷0 = 0.02
𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 16250 𝑁 𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙
𝑊 = 88251 𝑁 𝐾 = 0.04
The A/C is cruising at 4000 𝑚 with 60% thrust.
a) (5 points) Find the cruising speed for this condition (I am asking for the larger one).
For steady level flight thrust provided by the engine should equal the thrust required. We can use
the following 𝑇𝑅 equation as a function of 𝐶𝐿 that was derived in question 3 part a):
𝑊
𝑇𝑅 = 𝐶 + 𝑊𝐾𝐶𝐿
𝐶𝐿 𝐷0
We also need to find the 𝑇𝐴 :
𝜌
𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60% = 𝑇 × 0.6
𝜌0 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙
= 6521.8 𝑁
To find the answer we need to solve the following quadratic equation:
𝑊
𝐶 + 𝑊𝐾𝐶𝐿 = 𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60%
𝐶𝐿 𝐷0
which can be put into the following form:
𝑊𝐾𝐶𝐿2 − 𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60% 𝐶𝐿 + 𝑊𝐶𝐷0 = 0
You should realize that the above equation is in the form
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
with 𝑥 = 𝐶𝐿 and 𝑎 = 𝑊𝐾, 𝑏 = −𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60% , and 𝑐 = 𝑊𝐶𝐷0 . The two solutions are

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

𝐶𝐿1 = 0.329, 𝐶𝐿2 = 1.518

We are looking for the larger speed and that is given by the lower 𝐶𝐿 value. The speed is obtained
from the 𝑊 = 𝐿 equation

2𝑊
𝑉=
𝜌𝑆𝐶𝐿
𝑚
= 148.8
𝑠
b) (5 points) The pilot wants to climb without changing the throttle setting. Find the speed at which the
unaccelerated rate of climb would be the maximum at 4000 𝑚 with 60% thrust.
Unaccelerated rate of climb is given by
𝑇 − 𝐷 𝑉∞
𝑅/𝐶 =
𝑊
For a jet A/C thrust is independent of speed. At 4 𝑘𝑚 the rate of climb is given by
1 2𝐾𝑊 2
𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60% 𝑉 − 𝜌𝑉 3 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 −
2 𝜌𝑉𝑆
𝑅/𝐶 =
𝑊
To find the speed where 𝑅/𝐶 is maximum we need to differentiate the above relation with respect to
𝑉 and equate that to zero:
𝑑𝑅 𝐶 3 2𝐾𝑊 2
= 𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60% − 𝜌𝑉 2 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 + =0
𝑑𝑉 2 𝜌𝑉 2 𝑆
Above equation can be arranged to:
3 4 2
2𝐾𝑊 2
− 𝜌𝑆𝐶𝐷0 𝑉 + 𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60% 𝑉 + =0
2 𝜌𝑆
which is also in the form
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
3 2𝐾𝑊 2
with 𝑥 = 𝑉 2 and 𝑎 = − 𝜌𝑆𝐶𝐷0 , 𝑏 = 𝑇𝐴@4 𝑘𝑚 ,60% , and 𝑐 = . The two solutions are
2 𝜌𝑆

𝑥1 = 11948, 𝑥2 = −2967
Square of the speed cannot be negative, so the solution we need is the first one and the speed where
the unaccelerated rate of climb is maximum is given by
𝑚
𝑉 𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 = 109.3
𝑠
c) (10 points) The pilot changes the speed to the value you found in part b) and starts climbing at that
constant velocity (still at 60% thrust) until the rate of climb drops to zero and the A/C reaches a new
level flight condition at a higher altitude. What is the new altitude? It is sufficient to give the
altitude interval from the ISA table once you find the correct air density.
𝑚
So the A/C is flying at 4 𝑘𝑚 with a speed of 𝑉 𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 = 109.3 and 60% throttle setting. This
𝑠
is not an equilibrium condition as there is a nonzero rate of climb (excess power). In fact this speed
was found in part b) as the speed where the rate of climb would be maximum. The pilot uses the
excess power to make an unaccelerated climb. As the A/C gains altitude excess power (and hence
the unaccelerated rate of climb) decreases and finally drops to zero at a certain altitude. At the new
altitude the only unknown is the air density. Everything else is known, speed is 𝑉 𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 .
Available thrust at the new altitude is 60% of the maximum available, which is unknown, but can be

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

written as a function of the air density. Therefore there is only one unknown, 𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 , and that can be
solved from the following equation:
𝑃𝐴@𝑕 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝑃𝑅@𝑕 𝑛𝑒𝑤
1 2𝐾𝑊 2
𝑇𝐴@𝑕 𝑛𝑒𝑤 ,60% 𝑉 𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 = 𝜌 𝑉3 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 +
2 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑉 𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 𝑆
60% of the maximum thrust available at the new altitude is
𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤
𝑇𝐴@𝑕 𝑛𝑒𝑤 ,60% = 𝑇 × 0.6
𝜌0 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙
We need to solve the following second order equation to find the air density at the new altitude:
𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 @𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 × 0.6 × 𝑉 𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 1 2𝐾𝑊 2
− 𝑉 3𝑅 𝐶
2
𝑆𝐶𝐷0 𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 − =0
𝜌0 2 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 𝑉𝑅 𝐶 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @4𝑘𝑚 𝑆
The solution is:
𝑘𝑔
𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 0.6313
𝑚3
This corresponds to the interval 𝑕 = 6000, 6500 𝑚.
d) (10 points) At the cruising condition you found in part c) the pilot gives full throttle to climb further
to an even higher cruising altitude, still at the same speed as in part b). What is the new altitude? It
is sufficient to give the altitude interval from the ISA table once you find the correct air density.
Can you conclude for sure whether this is this the absolute or service ceiling or not without doing any
further computations? Explain.
Just like in part c), the A/C has some excess power due to the pilot increasing the thrust, and this
excess power is used to gain altitude. There will be a new (higher) altitude where things settle down,
that is, the available power becomes equal to the required power. Again the only unknown is the air
density. We need to solve the same equation as in part c), only difference is that the available thrust
is the maximum the engine can provide, whereas in part c) it was the 60% of the maximum thrust.
The solution is:
𝑘𝑔
𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 0.4258
𝑚3
This corresponds to the interval 𝑕 = 9500, 10000 𝑚.
Note that the A/C is still flying at the speed at which the rate of climb was maximum at 4000 𝑚.
Now it is flying above 9500 𝑚. An A/C can fly at its absolute ceiling only at one velocity, and this
velocity is the one where the maximum excess power is maximum. At the absolute ceiling the
maximum excess power is zero and it can be achieved at one velocity only. At any other velocity the
excess power is negative. The speed where the required power is minimum increases with altitude.
You should know this from your second homework. For jet A/C the speed at which the excess power
is maximum is not equal to the speed where the required power is minimum, but the speed at which
the excess power is maximum increases with altitude as well. At 4000 𝑚 this speed was 109.3 𝑚/𝑠
and at an altitude above 9500 𝑚 it SHOULD BE greater than that. Since the A/C is flying slower than
the speed where the excess power is maximum, you can conclude for sure that the altitude we found
here IS NOT the absolute ceiling. To see whether it is the service ceiling or not you need compute
the maximum rate of climb at this altitude and check if it is equal to 100 𝑓𝑡/𝑚𝑖𝑛 or not.
e) (5 points) In part d) the A/C is flying horizontally at full thrust at a certain altitude. Can the A/C
maintain level flight with full thrust at the same altitude at a higher speed? Explain. If the answer is
yes, find the maximum speed the A/C can fly with full thrust at the altitude you found in part d).

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

The answer is YES. For steady level flight the provided thrust (available) should be equal to the
required thrust so that the A/C can fly at a constant speed without acceleration. We know that the
thrust (or power) available and thrust (or power) required curves intersect at two points. So for a
constant thrust setting level flight can theoretically be achieved at two different speeds. The lower
one may not be achievable if it is lower than the stall speed, but in parts c) and d) the A/C is flying at
that minimum speed point. There is an implicit assumption that the minimum speed determined by
thrust is greater than the stall speed. The maximum speed the A/C can fly at the new altitude will be
the greater of the two roots of the equation formed by 𝑇𝐴@𝑕 𝑛𝑒𝑤 ,100% = 𝑇𝑅@𝑕 𝑛𝑒𝑤 :
𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 1 2
2𝐾𝑊 2
𝑇 = 𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑉 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 +
𝜌0 𝑚𝑎𝑥 @𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 2 𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑉 2 𝑆
which is equivalent to
1 𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 2𝐾𝑊 2
𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑉 4 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 − 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 @𝑠𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑉 2 + =0
2 𝜌0 𝜌𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑆
and the two roots are
𝑚
𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 109.3
𝑠
𝑚
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 181.5
𝑠
Notice that the minimum speed is the same as the speed found in part b). The speed asked in this
part was the maximum one.
Hints: You can assume for a jet A/C that the thrust is independent of speed.
−𝑏± 𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
The second order equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 has two solutions given by 𝑥1,2 =
2𝑎
International Standard Atmosphere
h ρ h ρ h ρ
[m] [kg/m3] [m] [kg/m3] [m] [kg/m3]
0 1.2250 3500 0.8634 7000 0.5901
500 1.1673 4000 0.8194 7500 0.5573
1000 1.1117 4500 0.7770 8000 0.5258
1500 1.0582 5000 0.7365 8500 0.4958
2000 1.0066 5500 0.6975 9000 0.4671
2500 0.9570 6000 0.6602 9500 0.4397
3000 0.9093 6500 0.6243 10000 0.4136

7. Consider the A/C in question 6 prepared for takeoff at sea level from a small airport as shown in the
figure below. There is a 100 𝑚 tall mountain 2500 𝑚 away from the beginning of the runway.
Assume that
- 𝐶𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.5, and use 𝐶𝐿 = 0.5 during ground roll.
- Ground effect coefficient is 𝜙 = 0.7 during ground roll and 𝜙 = 1 during climbing
- The liftoff speed is 𝑉𝐿𝑂 = 1.2𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙
- After liftoff the A/C performs unaccelerated climb at 𝑉∞ = 𝑉𝐿𝑂
- The rate of climb is constant and 𝑊 cos 𝛾 ≅ 𝑊

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

𝑉 = 𝑉𝐿𝑂

100 𝑚 𝑉 = 𝑉𝐿𝑂 𝑉=0

𝑥
𝛾

𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑏 𝑥𝐿𝑂
2500 𝑚

a) (10 points) Find out if the A/C can safely take off, assuming that it performs unaccelerated climb
after liftoff. Use the following simplified expression for ground-roll distance:
2
𝑉𝐿𝑂 𝑚
𝑥𝐿𝑂 =
2 𝑇 − 𝐷 + 0.05 𝑊 − 𝐿 𝑉=0.7𝑉𝐿𝑂

What is really asked here is if the altitude of the A/C at 𝑥 = 2500 𝑚 will be greater than 100 𝑚 or
not. If it is not, then the A/C will hit the mountain, and it will not be a safe takeoff . This is almost
exactly the same as the sample problem, the only difference is that you have a jet A/C, which really
doesn’t change the formulas, only the numbers are different. A lot of people used 60% thrust for
takeoff. In question 6, the A/C is cruising at 4000 𝑚, here it is taking off at sea level. Even if it is not
given, you should have assumed that the thrust would be maximum. The pilot is trying not to hit the
mountain, why would he take off at partial thrust?
To use the given formula we need to find the stall speed and then the liftoff speed:

2𝑊 𝑚
𝑉𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙 = = 57.0
𝜌0 𝑆𝐶𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑠
𝑚
𝑉𝐿𝑂 = 68.4
𝑠
The effective force is
𝐹𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝑇 − 𝐷 + 𝜇𝑟 𝑊 − 𝐿 𝑉=0.7𝑉𝐿𝑂
1 1
= 𝑇 − 𝜌0 𝑉 2 𝑆 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝜙𝐾𝐶𝐿2𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝜇𝑟 𝑊 − 𝜌0 𝑉 2 𝑆𝐶𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥
2 2 𝑉=0.7𝑉𝐿𝑂
= 11754 𝑁

Then the liftoff distance becomes

𝑥𝐿𝑂 = 1791.8 𝑚
Next we need to find the rate of climb at 𝑉𝐿𝑂 , which is equal to the specific excess power:
𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝐿𝑂 − 𝐷𝑉𝐿𝑂
𝑅/𝐶 =
𝑊
1 2
𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝐿𝑂 − 𝜌0 𝑉𝐿𝑂 𝑆 𝐶𝐷0 + 𝐾𝐶𝐿2 𝑉𝐿𝑂
= 2
𝑊
𝐶𝐿 in the above equation is the lift coefficient required for level flight at 𝑉𝐿𝑂 , which comes from
1
𝑊= 𝜌 𝑉 2 𝑆𝐶
2 0 𝐿𝑂 𝐿
as 𝐶𝐿 = 1.04 if we assume 𝐿 = 𝑊 cos 𝛾 ≅ 𝑊 as given. Then the rate of climb is

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

𝑚
𝑅/𝐶 = 8.44
𝑠
Climb angle 𝛾 can be found from the following speed triangle:

𝑉𝐿𝑂
𝑅/𝐶 = 𝑉𝐿𝑂 sin 𝛾 𝛾
𝑢 = 𝑉∞ cos 𝛾
𝑅/𝐶
𝛾 = sin−1
𝑉𝐿𝑂
= 7.1°
The ground distance left for the A/C to climb is denoted as 𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑏 in the figure above and is given by
𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑏 = 2500 − 𝑥𝐿𝑂
= 708.2 𝑚
The altitude of the A/C at 𝑥 = 2500 𝑚 can be found using the climb angle as
𝑕 = 𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑏 tan 𝛾
= 88.0 𝑚
So the A/C hits the mountain!
b) (10 points) The pilot starts accelerating and when he reaches 𝑥 = 𝑥𝐿𝑂 at speed 𝑉𝐿𝑂 , he realizes that
he cannot clear the mountain. He cannot abort takeoff as it is too late and his only option is to
reduce weight by discharging fuel. How much fuel does he need to discharge so that the A/C can
barely clear the mountain? Assume that the desired amount of fuel can be discharged
instantaneously and the A/C starts unaccelerated climb with the reduced weight.
Above we saw that the A/C lifts off at 𝑥𝐿𝑂 = 1791.8 𝑚, but the 𝑅/𝐶 it has at that point is not
sufficient to clear the mountain. The 𝑅/𝐶 needs to be increased, and one way to do that is to reduce
weight. Many aircraft are actually equipped with mechanisms to throw fuel out if necessary to
reduce weight and this is used in emergency conditions. For most aircraft maximum takeoff weight is
greater than the maximum landing weight. That means if an aircraft takes off at its maximum
weight, it cannot land immediately. This happens to be the case for long range aircraft. They take
off with a lot of fuel to fly for thousands of kilometers, and if there is an emergency before they
consume most of the fuel, they cannot land unless they throw some of the fuel out.
To answer this part, you need to find a new climb angle such that the A/C clears the mountain. For
𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑏 = 708.2 𝑚 and 𝑕 = 100 𝑚, 𝛾𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 8.0°. This requires
𝑅 𝐶 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝑉𝐿𝑂 sin 𝛾𝑛𝑒𝑤
𝑚
= 9.6
𝑠
Note that 𝑉𝐿𝑂 and 𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑏 are the same. We need to solve for 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑤 from the following equation:
𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝐿𝑂 − 𝐷𝑉𝐿𝑂
𝑅 𝐶 𝑛𝑒𝑤 =
𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑤
2
1 3 2𝐾𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑤
𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝐿𝑂 − 𝜌0 𝑉𝐿𝑂 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 −
2 𝜌0 𝑉𝐿𝑂 𝑆
=
𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑤
2𝐾 1 3
𝑊 2 + 𝑅 𝐶 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑤 + 𝜌0 𝑉𝐿𝑂 𝑆𝐶𝐷0 − 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝐿𝑂 = 0
𝜌0 𝑉𝐿𝑂 𝑆 𝑛𝑒𝑤 2
The positive solution of the above equation is:
𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 81612 𝑁

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METU Spring 2010 AE 172 Midterm 2 questions and solutions, Dr. Ali Türker Kutay

Therefore, the amount of fuel the pilot needs to dump out is:
Δ𝑊 = 𝑊 − 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑤
= 6639.2 𝑁
which is equal to 676.8 𝑘𝑔 of fuel.

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