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Rate of descent at altitude

Asked by: 3030 views Aerodynamics

sir i am flying T-37 aircraft whose glide speed is 125 kts. my question is that will there be any effect on rate of descend if i am gliding at 125 kts at higher altitude or any lower altitude?

ROD has to do some thing with height if gliding at constant IAS?

 

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1 Answers



  1. Nathan Parker on Oct 12, 2012

    Since your TAS is higher at the higher altitude, your descent rate will increase for the same glide angle. Basic trigonometry will give you this answer.

    Another way to look at the same problem is that your rate of descent is determined by your power deficit. For a given IAS, the power required for level flight is higher at a higher altitude, meaning that the power deficit is higher when power is removed.

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