murps2000 86 #1 December 24, 2003 *** >Wouldn't the increase in airspeed generate a corresponding increase > in drag . . . Yes. More speed=more drag (and more lift as well, needed to carry the additional weight.) >which would affect the glide ratio? No, since both lift _and_ drag increase. The glide ratio is often expressed as lift/drag; if you increase both at the same time, the speed may change but the angle does not. *** Okay, lift and drag increase exponentially with speed increases, and so the glide ratio is maintained. This makes perfect sense to me in the theoretical world and it corresponds to what little I've read on the subject. What I find escapes me, is that in the real world any gliding aircraft is powered by gravity, and therefore must fly at a certain nose down attitude to maintain enough speed to fly. Now, with any speed increase, parasitic drag increases, as well. In order to overcome this, and maintain the speed needed to continue to fly, particularly at heavier wing loadings, doesn't the aircraft then need to fly at a more nose down attitude? And if so, wouldn't that affect the overall glide ratio? You've already said that the angle would not have to increase, but you mentioned nothing about parasitic drag. I think what I'm alluding to here, at least as it pertains to the wings that we fly, is what very experienced canopy pilots refer to as the point of diminishing returns when flying canopies way above their normal recommended wing loadings. The wing remains the same, and so the glide ratio must remain the same, as well. But at some point, in the real world, the canopy's glide performance suffers, doesn't it? What gives? BTW, I'd be happy to start a thread about this in Swooping & Canopy Control, if it is more appropriate than here in Incidents. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
