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Old 18th May 2009 | 13:45
  #25 (permalink)  
feathering tickles
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: manchester
H500, I can see where you're coming from but if the headwind component was sufficiently strong to require 130kts IAS to achieve best glide then you would be flying into a very strong wind and so your groundspeed would be much lower.

Matthew Parsons 1/2 wind speed approximation is a pretty good rule of thumb and so that might mean a headwind of something like 100kts to require 130kts IAS for best range auto (assuming 80kts best glide in still air for 500D). The groundspeed is therefore only 30kts so not much difficulty flaring that off or controlling Nr.

Possibly the 1/2 wind speed approximation will be a bit inaccurate by 100kts (not important outside a theoretical discussion I would suggest!)and groundspeed might be higher than 30kts but even so it would be simple to flare earlier if required and intercept a familiar profile for final approach.
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