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How can flying high minimize drag and provide a fuel efficiency?
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as the plane go high, it means the engines have to work harder to compensate for the air density, therefore it will require more fuel in order provide the same power at lower altitudes. but, I always hear that flying high means less fuel burnet. please explain how.
engine fuel
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
as the plane go high, it means the engines have to work harder to compensate for the air density, therefore it will require more fuel in order provide the same power at lower altitudes. but, I always hear that flying high means less fuel burnet. please explain how.
engine fuel
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
2
Less air molecules means less drag...
– Ron Beyer
2 hours ago
1
On what basis do the engines have to "work harder"?
– Greg Hewgill
2 hours ago
1
Flying at high altitude produces the same amount of drag, because you must fly faster in order to get enough lift power. BUT, it allows you to cover more ground miles with the same power setting in given amount of time, compared to what would you cover flying at low levels. Why? Because the air density is lower at altitude. There's also a significant temperature benefit for the engines. They run more efficient in low temperatures.
– Electric Pilot
2 hours ago
Related, maybe even a dupe?
– Pondlife
2 hours ago
Greg, I flew multi engine airplane and I've noticed that for every thousand feet my RPM indicators slightly decrease. I have to add more power to maintain the same airspeed. some times it get to the point where I'm at full power and I'm barely getting the normal cruise speed.
– Abdull
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
as the plane go high, it means the engines have to work harder to compensate for the air density, therefore it will require more fuel in order provide the same power at lower altitudes. but, I always hear that flying high means less fuel burnet. please explain how.
engine fuel
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
as the plane go high, it means the engines have to work harder to compensate for the air density, therefore it will require more fuel in order provide the same power at lower altitudes. but, I always hear that flying high means less fuel burnet. please explain how.
engine fuel
engine fuel
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
asked 2 hours ago
Abdull
607
607
2
Less air molecules means less drag...
– Ron Beyer
2 hours ago
1
On what basis do the engines have to "work harder"?
– Greg Hewgill
2 hours ago
1
Flying at high altitude produces the same amount of drag, because you must fly faster in order to get enough lift power. BUT, it allows you to cover more ground miles with the same power setting in given amount of time, compared to what would you cover flying at low levels. Why? Because the air density is lower at altitude. There's also a significant temperature benefit for the engines. They run more efficient in low temperatures.
– Electric Pilot
2 hours ago
Related, maybe even a dupe?
– Pondlife
2 hours ago
Greg, I flew multi engine airplane and I've noticed that for every thousand feet my RPM indicators slightly decrease. I have to add more power to maintain the same airspeed. some times it get to the point where I'm at full power and I'm barely getting the normal cruise speed.
– Abdull
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2
Less air molecules means less drag...
– Ron Beyer
2 hours ago
1
On what basis do the engines have to "work harder"?
– Greg Hewgill
2 hours ago
1
Flying at high altitude produces the same amount of drag, because you must fly faster in order to get enough lift power. BUT, it allows you to cover more ground miles with the same power setting in given amount of time, compared to what would you cover flying at low levels. Why? Because the air density is lower at altitude. There's also a significant temperature benefit for the engines. They run more efficient in low temperatures.
– Electric Pilot
2 hours ago
Related, maybe even a dupe?
– Pondlife
2 hours ago
Greg, I flew multi engine airplane and I've noticed that for every thousand feet my RPM indicators slightly decrease. I have to add more power to maintain the same airspeed. some times it get to the point where I'm at full power and I'm barely getting the normal cruise speed.
– Abdull
1 hour ago
2
2
Less air molecules means less drag...
– Ron Beyer
2 hours ago
Less air molecules means less drag...
– Ron Beyer
2 hours ago
1
1
On what basis do the engines have to "work harder"?
– Greg Hewgill
2 hours ago
On what basis do the engines have to "work harder"?
– Greg Hewgill
2 hours ago
1
1
Flying at high altitude produces the same amount of drag, because you must fly faster in order to get enough lift power. BUT, it allows you to cover more ground miles with the same power setting in given amount of time, compared to what would you cover flying at low levels. Why? Because the air density is lower at altitude. There's also a significant temperature benefit for the engines. They run more efficient in low temperatures.
– Electric Pilot
2 hours ago
Flying at high altitude produces the same amount of drag, because you must fly faster in order to get enough lift power. BUT, it allows you to cover more ground miles with the same power setting in given amount of time, compared to what would you cover flying at low levels. Why? Because the air density is lower at altitude. There's also a significant temperature benefit for the engines. They run more efficient in low temperatures.
– Electric Pilot
2 hours ago
Related, maybe even a dupe?
– Pondlife
2 hours ago
Related, maybe even a dupe?
– Pondlife
2 hours ago
Greg, I flew multi engine airplane and I've noticed that for every thousand feet my RPM indicators slightly decrease. I have to add more power to maintain the same airspeed. some times it get to the point where I'm at full power and I'm barely getting the normal cruise speed.
– Abdull
1 hour ago
Greg, I flew multi engine airplane and I've noticed that for every thousand feet my RPM indicators slightly decrease. I have to add more power to maintain the same airspeed. some times it get to the point where I'm at full power and I'm barely getting the normal cruise speed.
– Abdull
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Flying higher means less drag because the air is thinner; therefore, you can fly faster at altitude and hence travel farther on less fuel.
However, flying higher also means less oxygen available to burn your fuel, so available horsepower decreases with altitude.
There is a special altitude at which these two effects (drag reduction and available power reduction) achieve a crossover point. This is called the critical altitude and it is there where you achieve optimum cruise and best economy.
If you want to fly higher than critical altitude, you will fly slower because the power loss is greater than the drag reduction and you will spend more time in the air.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
1
You don't necessarily fly slower above that altitude, you just fly more inefficiently. The issue is that the stall speed increases at the same point you start approaching critical mach, so the "window" between these two speeds gets smaller, which is known as the coffin corner.
– Ron Beyer
58 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Flying higher means less drag because the air is thinner; therefore, you can fly faster at altitude and hence travel farther on less fuel.
However, flying higher also means less oxygen available to burn your fuel, so available horsepower decreases with altitude.
There is a special altitude at which these two effects (drag reduction and available power reduction) achieve a crossover point. This is called the critical altitude and it is there where you achieve optimum cruise and best economy.
If you want to fly higher than critical altitude, you will fly slower because the power loss is greater than the drag reduction and you will spend more time in the air.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
1
You don't necessarily fly slower above that altitude, you just fly more inefficiently. The issue is that the stall speed increases at the same point you start approaching critical mach, so the "window" between these two speeds gets smaller, which is known as the coffin corner.
– Ron Beyer
58 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Flying higher means less drag because the air is thinner; therefore, you can fly faster at altitude and hence travel farther on less fuel.
However, flying higher also means less oxygen available to burn your fuel, so available horsepower decreases with altitude.
There is a special altitude at which these two effects (drag reduction and available power reduction) achieve a crossover point. This is called the critical altitude and it is there where you achieve optimum cruise and best economy.
If you want to fly higher than critical altitude, you will fly slower because the power loss is greater than the drag reduction and you will spend more time in the air.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
1
You don't necessarily fly slower above that altitude, you just fly more inefficiently. The issue is that the stall speed increases at the same point you start approaching critical mach, so the "window" between these two speeds gets smaller, which is known as the coffin corner.
– Ron Beyer
58 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Flying higher means less drag because the air is thinner; therefore, you can fly faster at altitude and hence travel farther on less fuel.
However, flying higher also means less oxygen available to burn your fuel, so available horsepower decreases with altitude.
There is a special altitude at which these two effects (drag reduction and available power reduction) achieve a crossover point. This is called the critical altitude and it is there where you achieve optimum cruise and best economy.
If you want to fly higher than critical altitude, you will fly slower because the power loss is greater than the drag reduction and you will spend more time in the air.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
Flying higher means less drag because the air is thinner; therefore, you can fly faster at altitude and hence travel farther on less fuel.
However, flying higher also means less oxygen available to burn your fuel, so available horsepower decreases with altitude.
There is a special altitude at which these two effects (drag reduction and available power reduction) achieve a crossover point. This is called the critical altitude and it is there where you achieve optimum cruise and best economy.
If you want to fly higher than critical altitude, you will fly slower because the power loss is greater than the drag reduction and you will spend more time in the air.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsen
1,2841212
1,2841212
1
You don't necessarily fly slower above that altitude, you just fly more inefficiently. The issue is that the stall speed increases at the same point you start approaching critical mach, so the "window" between these two speeds gets smaller, which is known as the coffin corner.
– Ron Beyer
58 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
You don't necessarily fly slower above that altitude, you just fly more inefficiently. The issue is that the stall speed increases at the same point you start approaching critical mach, so the "window" between these two speeds gets smaller, which is known as the coffin corner.
– Ron Beyer
58 mins ago
1
1
You don't necessarily fly slower above that altitude, you just fly more inefficiently. The issue is that the stall speed increases at the same point you start approaching critical mach, so the "window" between these two speeds gets smaller, which is known as the coffin corner.
– Ron Beyer
58 mins ago
You don't necessarily fly slower above that altitude, you just fly more inefficiently. The issue is that the stall speed increases at the same point you start approaching critical mach, so the "window" between these two speeds gets smaller, which is known as the coffin corner.
– Ron Beyer
58 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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2
Less air molecules means less drag...
– Ron Beyer
2 hours ago
1
On what basis do the engines have to "work harder"?
– Greg Hewgill
2 hours ago
1
Flying at high altitude produces the same amount of drag, because you must fly faster in order to get enough lift power. BUT, it allows you to cover more ground miles with the same power setting in given amount of time, compared to what would you cover flying at low levels. Why? Because the air density is lower at altitude. There's also a significant temperature benefit for the engines. They run more efficient in low temperatures.
– Electric Pilot
2 hours ago
Related, maybe even a dupe?
– Pondlife
2 hours ago
Greg, I flew multi engine airplane and I've noticed that for every thousand feet my RPM indicators slightly decrease. I have to add more power to maintain the same airspeed. some times it get to the point where I'm at full power and I'm barely getting the normal cruise speed.
– Abdull
1 hour ago