Slightly off topic. I reckon, max range is best illustrated by the term 'Specific Range' and not the drag curve. IMHO, the drag curve concept is one of those popular things for exams and interviews. Itīs a simplification of what is really happening with powered airplanes. The point of minimum drag should give the highest value of L/D, which means best glide ratio (unpowered flight!).
But, donīt take my word. Out of 'Jet Airplane Performance':
'In any flight performance problem involving fuel consumption, the engine and the airframe have to be regarded in relation to each other. Engine performance and the aerodynamic behaviour of an airplane is determined by numerous conditions that not only influence the final results, but also affect each otherīs significance.
The partially complex correlations involved in the computation of cruise performance can be illustrated by just one term, the ''specific range''.'
SR=Still Air Distance/Fuel Quantity[NAM/kg]
or
SR=True Airspeed/Fuel Flow[NAM/h / kg/h]
Last edited by wondering; 9th April 2007 at 14:42.