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12 - Cruise Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2013

Antonio Filippone
Antonio Filippone
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
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Summary

Overview

In this chapter we introduce the concepts of distance flown by an aircraft with and without stop for refuelling (§ 12.1). We discuss a number of cruise programs at subsonic and supersonic speeds and some optimal problems in long-range cruise, with or without constraints. First we present the analysis of the instantaneous cruise parameters (§ 12.2), including the specific range. We then provide numerical solutions of the specific range for real aircraft (§ 12.3). For the sake of generality, we also present the range equation, which is solved in closed form (§ 12.4), and deal with the separate problems of jet aircraft at subsonic speed (§ 12.5) and propeller aircraft (§ 12.6).We show a number of more advanced studies in cruise altitude selection (§ 12.7), cruise performance deterioration (§ 12.8), cost index and economic Mach number (§ 12.9) and various other effects, such as the effects of high-altitude winds and centre of gravity position (§ 12.10). We deal briefly with supersonic aircraft (§ 12.11).

KEY CONCEPTS: Point Performance, Specific Air Range, Cruise Altitude Selection, Range Equation, Long-Range Mach, Maximum-Range Mach, Cost Index, Economic Mach Number, Effects of Winds, Centre of Gravity Effects, Supersonic Cruise.

Introduction

For most commercial aircraft the fuel consumed during the cruising phase of the flight makes up the bulk of the fuel carried and is a key factor in the productivity and direct operating costs of an aircraft. Since the early 1970s, with the price of fuel soaring, both the airlines and the military have been concerned with energy-efficient operations. For this reason, several cruise conditions have been studied.

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Advanced Aircraft Flight Performance , pp. 328 - 359
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2012

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References

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  • Cruise Performance
  • Antonio Filippone, University of Manchester
  • Book: Advanced Aircraft Flight Performance
  • Online publication: 05 January 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139161893.015
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  • Cruise Performance
  • Antonio Filippone, University of Manchester
  • Book: Advanced Aircraft Flight Performance
  • Online publication: 05 January 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139161893.015
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Cruise Performance
  • Antonio Filippone, University of Manchester
  • Book: Advanced Aircraft Flight Performance
  • Online publication: 05 January 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139161893.015
Available formats
×