"xerj" wrote in message
...
I was trying to explain to a non-pilot why increased power is required with
altitude. She said "isn't the air thinner up there so there isn't as much
resistance?" I said "yes, but the plane needs to fly fast enough for the
air over the wings to feel like it does down low. So the speed required
goes up you get higher. More speed need more power."

This didn't really do the trick.

Can someone think of a better way of putting it without resorting to
mathematics and an explanation of IAS and TAS?

TIA


To fly the same IAS requires the same power. To fly the same TAS, requires
less power. Because the air is thinner, you need a higher throttle setting
to get the same power out of the engine. Maybe you are getting throttle
setting confused with power.

Danny Deger