PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Lightweight Aircraft During Descent, Approach and Landing
Old 15th May 2006 | 15:59
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JonaLX
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 32
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From: Europe
yup on my airplane as well: less weight means steeper descent

simplified:

the composant of weight acting towards your flight path is added to your thrust (weight*sin angle)

if you take 2 planes at same angle of descent but different weight:

aircraft heavier will need more drag or will accelerate until drag=thrust
if both descending at idle and speed limiting (as Vmo) then the heavier aircraft will have to reduce its descent angle compared to the lighter one

Correct me if I'm wrong, thanks
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