PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Why does an aircraft descend quicker when it is lighter?

16th Apr 2010, 23:39

#15 (permalink)

jimmygill

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@fly_antonov

I made the post without having read yours, content is almost identical.

Following table extracts some data from above graphs.

Code:

    Airplane A      Airplane B       Change
    (100 tons)      (150 tons)         in                Result
 AOA      L/D      AOA      L/D        L/D
 2.0      7.6      3.0      9.8       Positive       Lighter Descends Quicker
 5.0     12.2      7.5     12.2       No Change      Both Descend The Same Way
 8.0     12.0      12.0    10.0       Negative       Heavier Descends Quicker

Last edited by jimmygill; 17th Apr 2010 at 00:02.

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