AE-321A Practice problems - I

1. A propeller airplane weighs W0 = 45,000 N and has a wing area of 28 m2. The drag polar is given
by 𝐶𝐷 = 0.021 + 0.045 𝐶2 and the maximum lift coefficient is 1.5. The power developed by
engine is 900 kW with a propulsive efficiency of 0.82 and a specific fuel consumption of 3.5
N/kW/hr at sea level. What minimum fuel load should the airplane carry to cover a still air
range of 1200 km? Assume that the airplane operates at Sea level.
2. A glider weighs 4500 N and has a wing loading of 600 N/m2, and its drag
polar is given by 𝐶𝐷 = 0.01 + 0.022 𝐶𝐿2 . It is launched from a height of 400 m in
still air. Find (a) greatest possible ground distance it can cover, (b) the maximum
time it can remain in air, and (c) effect of 10 m/s tailwind for each of the above two
cases.
3. A certain airplane weighs 44,440 N and has a wing loading of 1433.55 N/m 2.
The drag polar is given by 𝐶𝐷 = 0.02 + 0.04 𝐶𝐿2 . and 𝐶𝐿 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.2. For a power-off
glide from 600 m, determine (a) the maximum distance it can cover and (b) the
maximum time it can remain in the air.
4. A jet aircraft has the following data: W =50,000 N, 𝐶𝐷 = 0.025 + 0.03𝐶𝐿2 , 𝐶𝐿 = 0.08𝛼 , 𝑆 =
𝑁
30𝑚2 , 𝑇 = 15,000𝜎 0.6 𝑁 , and 𝑐 = 1.0 𝜎 0.2 .
𝑁ℎ

If the airplane cruises at an angle of attack of 5 deg, determine the percent change
in the fuel consumption compared to the minimum possible fuel consumption to
cover a range of 1500 km at an altitude of 11 km (a = 0.293). Assume that the
pilot constantly monitors the speed to prevent the aircraft from gaining altitude.
5. A jet aircraft has the following data: W =50,000 N, 𝐶𝐷 = 0.025 + 0.04𝐶𝐿2 , 𝐶𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.2 , 𝑆 =
𝑁
30𝑚2 , 𝑇 = 14,500𝜎 0.65𝑁 , and 𝑐 = 1.5 𝜎 0.25 , oil consumption= 1𝑁 for every 25N of fuel, and
𝑁ℎ

𝑊𝑓 = 20,000𝑁.
Determine (a) still-air range and endurance at an altitude of 5000𝑚 (𝜎 = 0.60) and (b) reduction
in the range if the aircraft encounters a steady headwind of 20 m/s during the cruise.
6. A certain airplane weighs 44,440 N and has a wing loading of 1433.55 𝑁/𝑚2
The drag polar is given by 𝐶𝐷 = 0.02 + 0.04 𝐶𝐿2 and 𝐶𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.2. For apower-off
glide from 600 m, determine (a) the maximum distance it can cover and (b) the
maximum time it can remain in the air.
7. A jet aircraft weighs 150,000 N and has a wing area of 30 m2. Its drag polar
is given by 𝐶𝐷 = 0.015 + 0.025 𝐶𝐿2 . The sea level thrust 𝑇0 is equal to 23,200 N,
and the thrust at altitude is given by 𝑇 = 𝑇0 𝜎. The specific fuel consumption at sea
level 𝑐0 is 1.2 N/Nh and, at altitude, 𝑐 = 𝑐0 𝜎. Determine (a) the most economical
cruise altitude and (b) fuel load and cruise velocity for a Breguet range of 2500 km.
8. If the aircraft in question 4 followed a constant-altitude range program,
 find (a) cruise altitude and (b) fuel required to cover a still-air range of 2500 km.

9. A propeller airplane weighs 60,000 N and has a wing loading of 2000 𝑁/𝑚2.
The aspect ratio of the wings is 6, zero-lift drag coefficient is equal to 0.021, and
Oswald's efficiency factor is equal to 0.920. The airplane produces a thrust of
750 kW at a propulsive efficiency of 0.82 and a specific fuel consumption of
3.5 N/kW/h. What fuel load should the airplane carry (a) to cover a still-air range
of 1500 km and (b) to remain in air for 8 h? Assume that the airplane operates at an
altitude of 2.4 km.
10. Assuming thrust is independent of flight speed, show that dynamic pressure when rate of climb
is maximum, is given by.

𝑇 𝑇2 𝑊2
𝑞= +√ 2 +
6𝑆𝐶𝐷0 36𝑆 2 𝐶𝐷0 3𝜋𝑒𝐴𝑅𝐶𝐷0 𝑆 2

11. A propeller aircraft weighs 50,000 N and has a wing area of 30 m2. The drag polar of aircraft.
is given by 𝐶𝐷 = 0.025 + 0.05 𝐶𝐿2 and 𝐶𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.75. The maximum speed of the aircraft in level
flight is given by 𝑉𝑚𝑎S = 113 𝑚/𝑠. At sea level, determine the maximum rate of climb and the
power required corresponding to level flight at minimum thrust condition.
12. A piston-prop aircraft has a wing loading of 1600 N/m2, wing area of 25 𝑚2
and its drag polar is given by 𝐶𝐷 = 0.025 + 0.05 𝐶𝐿2 . The maximum lift coefficient
is 1.5. The reciprocating engine develops 750 kW at sea level, and the propulsive
efficiency of the engine-propeller combination is 0.85. Draw the power-available
and power-required curves at sea level. Determine the maximum and minimum speeds for level
flight at sea level. What is the minimum power required for level flight at sea level? Determine
the corresponding velocity and lift coefficient.
13. For the propeller airplane of question 11, determine, the maximum climb
angle and the maximum rate of climb at sea level as well as the velocities and lift
coefficients at which they occur.
14. An aircraft is powered by a turbojet engine and has a maximum speed
of 790 km/h at sea level. The gross weight of the vehicle is 160,000 N, wing
area is 50 m2, and 𝐶𝐷 = 0.02 + 0.04 𝐶𝐿2 . Find (a) the thrust developed by the
engine, (b) climb angle and rate of climb when flying at 75% maximum aerodynamic efficiency,
and (c) maximum rate of climb and velocity at which it occurs.

15. At a sea level speed of 200 m/s, the pilot of a certain jet aircraft can achieve a
rate of climb of 20 m/s. Instead of climbing, the pilot chooses to accelerate, holding
the altitude constant. Determine the maximum speed achieved at sea level. Assume
W = 200,000 N, S = 60m2, and 𝐶𝐷 = 0.021 + 0.042 𝐶𝐿2 .