Flying “on the step”. It’s been written about, talked about, debated over the years and there are still two opinions.
Some of my co-workers and I disagree, so I’d like your opinions. Some factual or written data to back it up would be even better.
Just to make the question clear: You are flying a swept wing transport jet. When you get to cruise altitude, you let the speed build up to .02 or so above the LRC cruise Mach to get it “on the step”. Now you can enjoy a greater TAS than LRC for the same cruise power setting (fuel flow) by virtue of getting it “on the step”.
Is there a “step”? Fact or “Old wives’ tale”?
