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Thread: Glide Distance
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Old 18th July 2001 | 20:55
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bookworm
 
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The "first order" answer is that the aircraft have the same lift and drag coefficients at optimum AOA, and therefore glide at the same distance/height ratio, but at different speeds.

The "second order" answer is that the heavier aircraft glides slightly faster -- it therefore has a higher Reynolds number and a lower skin friction drag coefficient. So it goes marginally further.
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