PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Jet Aircraft Fuel Burn Variations with Altitude
Old 27th Mar 2016, 04:59
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grounded27
 
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Really simple, same equates in a similarity to automotive fuel efficiency, drag really increases. 45-65MPH seems like a sweet zone, anything over the force of air increases exponentially as drag. To add a personal note, I found my fuel efficiency better in my motorhome (really high drag) at higher altitudes even though I was climbing and descending grades.

This is why airliners have been built to fly at altitudes up to 420, smaller pressure tubes in the exec-jet upwards of 50k as they can achieve a higher DP.
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