An aircraft will have
- less gliding distance with a higher payload.
- more gliding distance with a higher payload.
- the same gliding distance if it has more payload.
Explanation from PART66Online
Glide distance depends on the lift-to-drag ratio, which is set by the aerofoil and angle of attack, not by weight. A heavier aircraft simply glides at a higher speed for the same L/D and best glide angle, so it covers the same horizontal distance, just reaching the ground sooner.
M
MridulDev asked · 3 Oct 2012
please explain .
Community Comments (3)
K
kabui
6 Apr 2013
A out on this one. Please help?
H
Hercules
7 Sep 2013
Also do not agree with this answer. A light aircraft does not have any momentum and desends very rapidly. The heavier it requires to decend much earlier as a result of the momentum it carries using more track miles to its destination.
P
PART66Online
7 Sep 2013
Guys, please study aerodynamics.
Variations in aircraft weight do not affect the glide angle provided that the correct airspeed is flown. Since it is the lift over drag (L/D) ratio that determines the gliding range, weight will not affect it. The glide ratio is based only on the relationship of the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft. The only effect weight has is to vary the time the aircraft will glide for. The heavier the aircraft is, the higher the airspeed must be to obtain the same glide ratio. If two aircraft have the same L/D ratio but different weights and start a glide from the same altitude, the heavier aircraft gliding at a higher airspeed will arrive at the same touchdown point in a shorter time. Both aircraft will cover the same distance but the lighter one will take a longer time to do so.
Variations in aircraft weight do not affect the glide angle provided that the correct airspeed is flown. Since it is the lift over drag (L/D) ratio that determines the gliding range, weight will not affect it. The glide ratio is based only on the relationship of the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft. The only effect weight has is to vary the time the aircraft will glide for. The heavier the aircraft is, the higher the airspeed must be to obtain the same glide ratio. If two aircraft have the same L/D ratio but different weights and start a glide from the same altitude, the heavier aircraft gliding at a higher airspeed will arrive at the same touchdown point in a shorter time. Both aircraft will cover the same distance but the lighter one will take a longer time to do so.
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