PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - wing loading / g force / turn rate
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Old 10th Sep 2007, 15:34
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Mark1234
 
Join Date: May 2006
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Gosh, Tally ho chaps.
Well despite the theory the older "military folks" will tell you the simple answer is don't get into a horizontal turning fight with a low(er) wing loader and if you've got the power..use the vertical.

Bugging out.
'cos they'll beat you.... QED

P.S.
I dont have my textbooks handy but isn't excess power available the determining factor for maximum rate / minimum radius turns?
(Ignoring the glider where energy comes from elsewhere, and assuming no height loss)
For a sustained steady state turn, yes.. otherwise you're trading kinetic and potential energy about the place. Engines just give you a handy way of topping up the energy state! I have a hunch that not many aircraft can sustain high speed, high G - seem to recall somewhere that getting into a turnfight brings your speed right down even in modern jets, but then any aicraft has an optimum corner speed, and it isn't mach 3!

Last edited by Mark1234; 10th Sep 2007 at 15:48.
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