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Effect of Weight
lizzy
Topic Author
lizzy created the topic: Effect of Weight
An aircraft is maintaining a particular IAS , state the effect of an increasing weight on the total drag . What will happen to the TOTAL DRAG,PARASITE DRAG and INDUCED DRAG ?
This time, we'll copy the OP's question so we still have it should the OP change it beyond recognition as happened in another thread ...
An aircraft is maintaining a particular IAS , state the effect of an increasing weight on the total drag . What will happen to the TOTAL DRAG,PARASITE DRAG and INDUCED DRAG ?
Presuming level flight, if the weight increases (inflight refuel ?) then, to maintain the same speed and level, one needs more lift (increase the body angle) and, then, more thrust to counter the increased drag.
As to the answers ..
Increased weight results in increased lift and increased total drag.
(a) total drag will increase
(b) for an exam question, the answer sought probably will be that parasite drag stays sensibly the same although, with a slight change in pitch, the airflow pattern will change and parasite effects may change a little.
(c) lift has increased so induced drag increases.
Engineering specialist in aircraft performance and weight control.
