I saw this question on one of the interview sites and thought I would throw it on here. "In a headwind, do you increase or decrease power to get maximum range". I think it depends on your current power setting. To low a setting and you will decrease range, same with too high. Any jet drivers out there have comments?
Maximum Range
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EatSleepFly
Well-Known Member
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Range has everything to do with power setting and nothing to do with headwind or tailwind.
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For a given power setting:
Headwind = Lower groundspeed, thus shorter range.
Tailwind = Higher groundspeed, thus longer range.
Range has everything to do with power setting and nothing to do with headwind or tailwind.
[/ QUOTE ]
For a given power setting:
Headwind = Lower groundspeed, thus shorter range.
Tailwind = Higher groundspeed, thus longer range.
The original question:
[ QUOTE ]
. "In a headwind, do you increase or decrease power to get maximum range".
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To get maximum range in a headwind...you use the same power setting as you would to get maximum range in a tailwind.
The answer to the question is neither.
[ QUOTE ]
. "In a headwind, do you increase or decrease power to get maximum range".
[/ QUOTE ]
To get maximum range in a headwind...you use the same power setting as you would to get maximum range in a tailwind.
The answer to the question is neither.
Grabo172
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
. "In a headwind, do you increase or decrease power to get maximum range".
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I'm thinking you'd have to do some calculations depending on your particular situation...
You have to find the best power setting to give you the best groundspeed that will give you the best fuel burn (best flight time)... for example
if you have a fuel burn of 8 GPH at 100kts GS and have 40 gallons of fuel... therefor you have 5 hours of flight at 100 KTS GS = 500 Nm...
if you raise power (and airspeed which also affects GS) to a fuel burn of 10 GPH and a GS increase to 120 kts you now have 4 hours of flight and a range of 480 nm...
It all depends on your planes performance numbers..
(please note, numbers above are there to illustrate a point and are in no way a statement of any airplane's actual performance.
)
. "In a headwind, do you increase or decrease power to get maximum range".
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm thinking you'd have to do some calculations depending on your particular situation...
You have to find the best power setting to give you the best groundspeed that will give you the best fuel burn (best flight time)... for example
if you have a fuel burn of 8 GPH at 100kts GS and have 40 gallons of fuel... therefor you have 5 hours of flight at 100 KTS GS = 500 Nm...
if you raise power (and airspeed which also affects GS) to a fuel burn of 10 GPH and a GS increase to 120 kts you now have 4 hours of flight and a range of 480 nm...
It all depends on your planes performance numbers..
(please note, numbers above are there to illustrate a point and are in no way a statement of any airplane's actual performance.
MDPilot
Well-Known Member
Actually you have to factor in the brake specific fuel consumption, BSFC (or thrust specific fuel consumption, TSFC for jets)as well as specific range into the range equation. What it all boils down to is you have to increase your airspeed in a headwind to maximize range. Take an extreme example: 120 is your max range airspeed (no wind). Now fly into a 120 knot headwind. Your endurance time hasn't changed, but your range is now zero. You must increase your airspeed to increase groundspeed in order to increase range. The same theory applies in smaller amounts for smaller headwinds. In general, increase airspeed in a headwind, decrease airspeed in a tailwind in order to maximize range.
Edited to add: For an excellent article on all the particulars, see here
Edited to add: For an excellent article on all the particulars, see here