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#11
December 18th 04, 03:35 AM
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"David CL Francis" wrote in message However if you fly for maximum range
than you fly close to maximum lift/drag ratio which depends only on getting the correct alpha (ignoring compressibility effects). If the correlation between thrust and fuel burn is fairly linear, this is correct. A piston powered airplane with a constant speed propeller will achieve max range at any altitude it can sustain the correct alpha angle. Jets do not have a linear correlation. The jet I fly gets the same fuel burn at 5000' and 250 KIAS as it does at FL350 and 440KTAS. So since lift = weight, drag depends on weight and it reduces as fuel is burned. Remember that there are 2 kinds of drag- Parasite and Induced. Parasite drag is dependent on speed. Induced drag is dependent on alpha angle (among other things). I suggest a book called 'Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators'. Most good pilot shops have it. D. 
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