Aircraft Performance

1. Aircraft Performance Flying Further Than Any Other Aircraft in History 26,389.3 miles Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame “Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!”

2. Quote Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death I Shall Fear No Evil For I Am 80,000 Feet and Climbing. Sign over the entrance to the SR-71 operating location on Kadena

3. Roadmap • POH • Density Altitude • Takeoff Distance • Cruise Performance, Power & Fuel Burn • Landing Distance • Crosswinds

4. Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) • Also known as Approved Flight Manual (AFM) • Organized into Sections • General • Limitations • Emergency Procedures • Normal Procedures • Performance • Weight & Balance • Airplane & Systems Description • Handling, Service, & Maintenance • Supplements

5. Frequent Terms • Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) • Maximum gross weight at which the airplane is permitted to takeoff • Maneuvering Speed • Maximum speed for maneuvers at which full application of the primary flight controls cannot overstress the airframe

6. Maneuvering Speed VA = 113 kts

7. Density Altitude Revisited • Density Altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature • Varies directly with temperature and humidity • Varies indirectly with pressure • It is a number which tells you what the airplane (wings and engine) feels

8. Density Altitude

9. Density Altitude Chart

10. Takeoff Distance • Two Varieties • Ground Roll • Distance to Clear 50 ft obstacle • Also known as Takeoff Distance • Distance for aircraft to clear a 50-foot obstacle after a standing start at maximum takeoff power • Factors • ↑ Weight = ↑ Distance (and speed) • ↑ Air Density = ↓ Distance • ↑ Headwind = ↓ Distance • ↑ Slope = ↑ Ground Roll • ↑ Flaps = ↓ Ground Roll • ↑ Friction = ↑ Ground Roll

11. Cessna 172R Takeoff Distance

12. 0 deg Takeoff Perf

13. 25 deg Takeoff Perf

14. Climb Performance • Vx=Best Angle of Climb • Gain maximum altitude in shortest distance • VY=Best Rate of Climb • Gain maximum altitude in shortest time • Cruise Climb

15. Cessna 172R Climb Performance

16. Cruise Flight • An airplane is more efficient at altitude • Wings • Engines • Weather is generally confined to the troposphere so you can fly over it • Higher gives more options in case of emergencies • Reserves • Day VFR: 30 minutes at normal cruising speed • Night VFR: 45 minutes at normal cruising speed

17. Cessna 172R Cruise Performance

18. Cessna 172R Cruise Performance

19. Engine Performance

20. Performance Cruise VG = VL/D = 65 kts

21. Economy Cruise VS = 55 kts

22. Endurance Graph

23. Landing Distances • Two Varieties • Ground Roll • Distance over a 50 foot obstacle • Also known as Takeoff Distance • Distance for aircraft to clear a 50-foot obstacle after a standing start at maximum takeoff power • Factors • ↑ Weight = ↑ Distance (and speed) • ↑ Air Density = ↓ Distance • ↑ Headwind = ↓ Distance • ↑ Slope = ↓ Ground Roll • ↑ Flaps = ↓ Distance • ↑ Friction = ↓ Ground Roll • Maximum performance landings are always accomplished with full flaps • Stiff crosswinds sometimes dictate the use of partial flaps

24. Cessna 172R Landing Distance

25. 40 deg Landing Perf

26. Boeing 727 Landing Distance

27. Crosswinds • Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind Component is the maximum crosswind that existed during FAA certification • Often is not close to real maximum capability of aircraft • Weak link is generally lack of rudder authority (not enough deflection) • Often VX-Wind = 0.3 VS0

28. Crosswind Chart 30 knot wind, 30 deg off of the nose = 26 knot headwind = 15 knot crosswind

29. Questions?