Originally Posted by
Gadget freak
Jonkster,
I'm not trying to argue for or against any myths or theories, just trying to get the basic physics straight.
An aircraft going downwind at 120kts airspeed, into a 60 kt headwind with 180 kts groundspeed tailwind has a lot more kinetic energy and inertia than one going at 120 kts airspeed into a 60 kt headwind with only 60 kts groundspeed.
Same two questions that Flight Detent refused to answer:
100 kt airplane, 50 knot wind out of the east. Airplane flies east into wind with 50 knot groundspeed, then turns 180 degrees and flies west with a 150 knot groundspeed.
What is the velocity change from upwind to downwind.
Same airplane, no wind. Flies East at 100 kt, turns 180 degrees flies west at 100 knots
What is the velocity change from eastbound to westbound?