PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Simple TAS Question
View Single Post
Old 19th March 2004 | 17:50
  #3 (permalink)  
Dick Whittingham
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Bristol
Whoa there, boy. You don't need or get a higher TAS except under certain specific conditions. Condition one is that you intend to get max range, max ground miles per lb of fuel used.

This brings in condition 2, that you will start by flying at best range speed, getting best air miles per lb of fuel.

If you hit a head wind you will lose range. No way round that, but you can minimise the range lost by flying a little faster. This means that you will use more fuel, but only a little more, and that can be offset by getting to your destination a little quicker and getting down out of the headwind sooner.

Repeat. This does not give more range than in still air, just not so much range lost in a headwind as if you stuck to best range speed.

Contrarywise, in tailwind, slow down and stay up longer, and you will make the best use of the tailwind in gaining range.

These are marginal effects. It is not worth bothering unless your headwind is about half your TAS or your tailwind about one third your TAS.

Dick W
Dick Whittingham is offline