Performance:

Maximum Range

DEN/305 “Advanced Notes”

Turbojet and Turbofan Aircraft
.
Thrust-specific fuel consumption µ FT =m /T
f kg/s/N

Assume level cruise: T= D, L=W, T=mg/(L/D), constant U

RBr = Ut = U(L/D)/(g µ FT ) ln {m0/(m0-mf)}

Maximum Range at Prescribed U
At a given value of U (cruise velocity) maximum range
occurs when L/D is maximised, provided fuel mass and
initial mass are constant

RBr = Ut = U(L/D)/(g µ FT ) ln {m0/(m0-mf)}

Note: high L/D requires low CD0 and high A, but

typically wing mass increases as A increases
 Maximum L/D occurs at minimum
drag airspeed

total
profile

induced

U
© G. Dorrington Oct. 2001
 Altitude for Best Range,
U prescribed
U = Uc

U minD = {4 kW2 / (π b2 ρ 2 S CD0 ) }1/4

Uc2 = {4 kW2 / (π b2 ρ 2 S CD0 ) }1/2

ρ = {4 kW2 / (π b2 S Uc4 CD0 ) }1/2

 Maximum Range
when U is not prescribed
RBr = Ut = U(L/D)/(g µ FT ) ln {m0/(m0-mf)}

Need to maximise product U L/D at fixed m0 and mf

and since L=W, that means need to maximise UW/D,

so at any given W, need to maximise U/D

 Best Range Fuel Economy
Recall thrust sfc = µ FT = {dmF/dt } / T

so dmF/dt = µ FT T

and T=D, so dmF/dt = µ FT D

 Best Range Fuel Economy
dmF/dt = µ FT D

Also U = dR /dt , so dt = dR/U

dmF/dR = µ FT D/U

or dR/dmF = U/(µ FT D) [km/kg]

therefore need minimum D/U (at fixed µ FT )

 Minimum D/U

D
total

profile

induced

U
© G. Dorrington Oct. 2001
 Maximum Range
when U is not Prescribed
D = q SCD0 + q S {kCL2/(π A)} CL= W/(qS)
D = AU2 + B/U2
D/U = AU + B/U3

d(D/U)/dU = A - 3B/U4 = 0 when U4 = 3B/A

or when profile drag is 3 times lift-induced drag
U = (3B/A)1/4 = U minD (3)1/4
 Minimum D/U

D
total

profile

induced

U
© G. Dorrington Oct. 2001
 Best q for Best Range,
when U is not prescribed

U minD = {4 kW2 / (π b2 ρ 2 S CD0 ) }1/4

Uc = 3 1/4 U minD = {12 kW2 / (π b2 ρ 2 S CD0 ) }1/4

ρ Uc2 = {12 kW2 / (π b2 S CD0 ) }1/2

ρ Uc2/2 = {3 kW2 / (π b2 S Uc4 CD0 ) }1/2

End