Aerodynamic Theory - Level Flight

If you climb at a constant IAS below the tropopause, how does TAS and Mach number change?

TAS increases

Mach number increases

If you climb at a constant Mach number below the tropopause, what happens to the IAS and TAS?

IAS decreases

TAS decreases

If you climb at constant mach number above the tropopause, what happens to IAS and TAS?

TAS is constant

IAS decreases

What is a crossover altitude?

Altitude where given IAS = given Mach number

Aircraft will switch from maintaining constant IAS to constant Mach number

What is Vs1g?

"one" g stall speed, max lift stall speed

What is Vsr?

Reference stall speed, selected by pilot (not less than Vs1g)

What is Vs?

Traditional stall speed when lift collapses

What is Vmd?

Minimum drag speed, lowest point on thrust required/drag curve

Maximum endurance speed

What is is Vmp?

Minimum power speed, minimises drag x speed

What is the Vbr?

Maximum range speed, maximum speed/drag

What happens to thrust and speed when altitude increases (thrust curve)?

Thrust available decreases

Vmd, Mmr, performance limited speeds increase (endurance and range increase)

What happens to thrust and speed when weight increases (thrust curve)?

Thrust required/drag curve moves up

Vmd, Mmr increases

Thrust available is constant

Performance limited speeds decrease

Which one is greater, Vmd or Vmp?

Vmd > Vmp, minimum power ≠ minimum drag (minimum thrust)

How does increasing altitude affect the speeds (power curve)?

Vmd, Vmp and performance limited speeds increase

What happens when weight increases (power curve)?

Vmp and performance limited minimum speed increases

Maximum performance speed decreases

Available speed range decreases

What happens to the load limits when speeds are higher?

They become more restrained (less loads available)

What is Va?

Design manoeuvring speed, full deflection of controls will damage aircraft

What is Vc?

Maximum cruise speed (when load limits decrease)

What is Vd?

Design dive speed

What is Vo?

Operating manoeuvring speed, aircraft will stall before exceeding structural limits