Originally Posted by 16024
If the total downwards resultant is increased, then the total upward vector must also. so you get increased lift (from the extra speed) and also increased drag, both increasing as a square, so we're back where we started, nicely in equilibrium, with the same l/d.
Fair enough, but I'm/Warped are talking about constant speed descents (above to well-above best L/D speed). That diagram "helps" understand why a heavy jet goes much further than a light one; it's the weight vector that pushes it along, and so the descent angle must be decreased to compensate, resulting in said heavier jet going further when at the same speed.
Originally Posted by Ka6crpe
Capn Bloggs, Please don't make the mistake of thinking that Professional Pilots only fly large jet aircraft. There are a large number of professional pilots around the world who only ever fly light aircraft, and even a few professional glider pilots.
My apologies, not offence intended. I made that comment as the original post didn't qualify what the scenario was; descending a jet at a constant cost index ie speed at various weights is obviously going to be quite different to another type that is being descended at best L/D.
