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[HazelNuts39]

A numerical example

RE: PJ2 #551; Chris Scott #552

Perhaps I can add to Chris Scott’s remarks by giving a numerical example:

Ambient conditions: close to sealevel, ISA, still air (initially)
Airplane: A330, 205t, cg as QF72, airspeed 200 kt CAS (= TAS), AoA = 5.5 degrees

Set thrust to achieve FPA = -3 degrees (down), pitch attitude 2.5 deg up, rate of descent 1061 fpm, maintaining 200 kt.

Next, throw in 20 kt headwind, leaving everything else unchanged, and FPA increases to –3.3 degrees.

To return to FPA –3, increase thrust to achieve rate of descent of 955 fpm, and pitch angle will increase to 2.8 deg up. AoA remains 5.5 throughout because airspeed remains 200 kt.

regards,
HN39