Performance - difference of opinion
I came across an Oxford feedback question which goes like this:
With which conditions would the aircraft need to be flown, in order to achieve max speed?
a) Thrust set for min drag
b) Best lift drag ratio
c) Max thrust & max drag
d) Max thrust & min drag
Oxfords answer is (c). I have spoken to an oxford student who said the reasoning for this relates to the graph with power available and power required curves. The vertical axis being power, the horizontal being TAS. At the point where both curves meet and the aircraft is going as fast as it can, both values are at their maximum, therefore answer (c) applies.
However, I have just returned from mod 2 at Bristol where the same question is answered with (d). I raised the point with Alex who said words to the effect that no pilot would decide to configure the aircraft for max drag in order to achieve max speed and that this was a question that was looking for a common sense answer. (Appologies if I miss-understood or miss-quoted you Alex).
So, two respected schools, a differences of opinion. I'm sitting in August. All contributions considered and I'll go with the majority!