Piston Airplane Cruise Performance

Ability to achieve efficient range and endurance performance can mean the difference between an uneventful flight and one which ends in anxiety or even tragedy. Beyond the economics of fuel costs, the presence of unexpectedly strong headwinds, navigational error, or deteriorating weather may test the pilot\u27s cruise management capability. The prudent pilot will be prepared by thoroughly understanding the principles underlying cruise performance

Optimized Engine-Out Procedures to Extend the Range of Jet Transport Airplanes

Transoceanic jet transport service, once the exclusive domain of four-engine airplanes, will continue the trend toward two-engine airplanes. This has become possible due to larger, more fuel-efficient and reliable engines and airplanes. Improved reliability demonstrations may soon permit two-engine airplane tracks as far as 120 and 180 minutes flying time from the nearest suitable diversion airport. Although the probability of diversion for a given flight is extremely remote, safety dictates a worst case fuel reserve scenario based on engine-out diversion from the furthest point. This study focuses on engine-out optimum range flight techniques for typical two- and four-engine transports. Various engine-out scenarios for the Boeing 767 and Boeing 747 were investigated using airplane models in wind tunnel experiments. Engine-out specific range improvements up to 9% appear possible through proper techniques of zero sideslip, minimum drag flight. During a rare actual diversion, following proper minimum drag techniques will optimize engine-out specific range and stretch onboard reserves. Similarly, knowledge of such efficiency gains could routinely be translated into reduced diversion fuel reserves--without reduction in safety margin. Reduced contingency fuel translates to some combination of increased payload or improved all-engine cruise economy, thereby increasing operating efficiency and profitability