Fundamentals of aircraft performance

Determining Minimum drag velocity, VM D

Imagine an aircraft ying in a uniform motion through the air. In order to do this aircrafts engine must produce thrust force that is equal and opposite to the drag force. Thus we have: T = D = qSCD (1)

Where q is equal to dynamic pressure 1 V 2 , S is the reference area and CD 2 the coecient of drag. Aircraft has to also create lift to stay in the air. In uniform case the lift force must equal the force due gravity ie the weight. Hence we will have: L = W = qSCL (2)

Where CL is the coecient of lift. By dividing equation (1) by (2) we can deduce that the thrust required to maintain uniform ight is: T = W
CL CD

W
L D

(3)

Since it is know that the total drag of aircraft is the sum of parasite drag and lift induced drag, it can be written in the form: T = D = qSC(D,0) + qS
parasite drag 2 CL 2 ) e( b S

(4)

lift induced drag

Here

b2 S

is the aspect ratio. Now substituting CL = W2 2 qSe( b ) S

W qS

from equation (2) we

have equation T = qSC(D,0) + (5)

Since it is not possible to direntiate this equation with respect to V directly, we can write dT dT dV = dq dV dq the minimum drag since T = D) is obtained when (6) we also have that at that point
dT dq dT dV

(6)

From calculus we have that the velocity of minimum thrust required (thus = 0. From equation = 0 must also be true. Therefore we

can direntiate equation (5) with respect to q : ( ) dT W2 (11) = 1q SC(D,0) + 2 dq q (11) Se( b ) S dT W2 = SC(D,0) : S 2 dq q 2 Se( b ) S W2 C(D,0) = 2 q 2 S 2 e( b ) S From this equation we can see that conclusion that:
W2 q2 S 2

(7)

W 2 2 = ( qS ) = CL Which leads to

C(D,0) =

2 CL = CD,i 2 e( b ) S

C(D,0) = CD,i parasite drag = lift induced drag

What is Vmd ?
In order to obtain an expression for Vmd , it is possible to write the original equation in a dierent form. 1 kW 2 D = V 2 SC(D,0) + 1 2 2 V S 2 (8)

Where k =

When this equation is direntiated with respect to V and the derivative is set to be equal zero, an expression for Vmd can ve formed. In this equatin rst term can be diretiated using basic power rule and the second term by using quotient rule. 1 kW 2 D = V 2 SC(D,0) + 1 2 2 V S 2 dD 1 4kW 2 = 2 V (21) SC(D,0) dV 2 V (21) S dD 4kW 2 = V SC(D,0) dV V 3 S Next, the derivative is set to be equal zero and is solved for V 0 = V SC(D,0) 4kW 2 V V 3 S 4kW 2 V 4 S = SC(D,0) V 4 S = 2 S 2 C(D,0) V 4 4kW 2 : 2 S 2 C(D,0)
4 Vmd =

1 2 e( b ) S

and the equation of q , dynamic pressure is written out.

4kW 2 (S )2 C(D,0)

Best range and endurance for jet aircraft

Next, consider a jet engine that produces thrust. Thurst produced in a jet engine is directly propotional to the fuel consumed. Thus in order to maximize endurance, the aircraft must y at maximum
CL . CD

In order to have maximum range, aircraft must y maximum distance with every unit of fuel consumed. Thus we must nd speed where the ratio
D V

is at its maximum value. First the ratio is obtained.

1 V 2 SC(D,0) + 1kW 2 D V 2 S 2 = V V 1 kW 2 = V SC(D,0) + 1 3 2 V S 2
2

The next step is to direntiate the ratio with respect to V , which will give the speed at which the plane will furthest with minimal fuel per unit distance. Again, same methods of direntiation apply with this equation than with the previous one as well. After that we set derivative to equal zero and solve for V dD 1 V = SC(D,0) dV 2 1 0 = SC(D,0) 2 12kW 2 4 VD = U (S )2 C(D,0)
4kW 2 , (S )2 C(D,0)

6kW 2 V 4 S 6kW 2 V 4 S

Now it is possible to link minimun drag velocity and maximum range velocity.
4 Recall that Vmd =

thus:

4 4 VD = 3Vmd
U

V D = 1.316Vmd
U

Therefore maximum range velocity is 32% higher than the minimum drag velocity.

Best range and endurance for propeller driven aircraft

The dierence of a propeller driven compared to a jet one in terms of best range and endurance arises from the fact that fuel consumption of a propeller aircraft is a function of power, not thrust as it is with a jet aircraft. aamuja