AER 615 Aircraft Performance

PROBLEM #9 Solution
Max. range Mach number, variable propeller propulsive efficiency:
Air density at 10000 ft ISA alt. is D = 0.001756 slug/ft3. Sound speed at 10000 ft alt. is a =
1077 ft/s.
S = 945 sq. ft., K = 0.04 , CDo = 0.024 ;

0o = 0.5, a1 = 0.00095
Still air, nominal case, prop aircraft, C L,mr =

C Do
= (0.024/(0.04))1/2 = 0.775 ,
K

__

Vmr = (

W
1
C L ,mr S
2

)1 / 2 = (41000/(0.5@0.001756@0.775@945))1/2 = 253 ft/s in still air (150 kt).

With a variable 0pr that increases with airspeed, one knows to fly a bit faster than the nominal
case. Referring to the lecture notes:

0 = o KC L5,/mr2 +

a 2W 1 / 2
3
2W 1 / 2 2
2
) C L ,mr o C Do C L1 /,mr
1(
) C Do
a1 K (
S
2
2 S

0 = 0.02(CL,mr )2.5 + 0.01267(CL,mr) 2 -0.012(CL,mr)1/2-0.002534

Solving iteratively, one arrives at CL,mr = 0.65, which says:
__

Vmr = (

W
1
C L ,mr S
2

)1 / 2 = (41000/(0.5@0.001756@0.65@945))1/2 = 276 ft/s, or 163 kt.