Application of the energy concept to the climb performance of a light propellor-driven airplane
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Authors
Stewart, Walter C.
Hughey, George H.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1954
Date
Publisher
Princeton University
Language
en_US
Abstract
In this report the energy concept is applied to a low performance, propeller-driven airplane in an effort to determine maximum rate of climb and optimum energy climb schedules and to determine what advantage, if any, exists in using the latter over the former in climbing the airplane to a given energy height. From the data obtained from acceleration runs at constant altitude a predicted schedule of time-to-climb to various altitudes is determined using both methods. This predicted result is then compared to the results obtained from actually executing the derived schedules. It is concluded that the energy concept represents an improvement in economy of time and gasoline over the current use of sawtooth climbs to obtain maximum rate of climb data, and is equally satisfactory for that purpose. The necessity for using two pilots in the flight test operation is considered to be a minor disadvantage. This was required because this aircraft was not equipped with a constant speed propeller. In addition, it is concluded that the optimum energy climb schedule gives no significant Improvement over the maximum rate of climb schedule in a low performance aircraft of this type.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Aeronautical Engineering