Aircraft Performance
What is performance?
• Performance is a term used to describe the ability of
an aircraft to accomplish certain things that make it
useful for certain purposes.
Pressure altitude
• The height above standard datum plane when
[Link] is set in the altimeter.
Density altitude
• Pressure altitude corrected for
nonstandard temperature.
As air becomes less dense, it reduces:
• Power, because the engine takes in less air.
• Thrust, because the propeller is less efficient in thin air.
• Lift, because the thin air exerts less force on the airfoils.
Determine the
density altitude
for these
condition:
Altimeter
setting- 30.4
Temp – 27°C
Airport
elevation-
4000ft.
The surface wind
is 180° at 25
knots. What is the
cross wind
component for a
Rwy 13 landing?
What is the
headwind
component for a
Rwy 13 takeoff if
the surface wind is
190° at 15 knots?
Temperature – 30 °F
Pressure altitude-
6,000 ft.
Weight – 3,300 lbs.
Headwind – 20 knots
What is the total
takeoff distance over a
50-foot obstacle?
Temperature - 100 °F
Pressure altitude –
4,000 ft.
Weight – 3,200 lbs.
Wind – Calm
What is the ground
roll required for
takeoff over a 50-foot
obstacle?
Aircraft weight – 3,400 lbs.
Airport pressure altitude -6,000 ft.
Temperature at 6,000ft – (10°C)
Using a maximum rate of climb
under the given conditions, how
much fuel would be used from
engine start to a pressure altitude of
16,000 ft?
Aircraft weight – 3,500 lbs.
Airport pressure altitude -4,000 ft.
Temperature– (21°C)
Using a normal climb, how much
fuel would be used from engine
start to a pressure altitude of 10,000
ft?
Aircraft weight – 3,700 lbs.
Airport pressure altitude -4,000 ft.
Temperature at 4,000 ft.– (21°C)
Using a normal climb, how much
fuel would be used from engine
start to a pressure altitude of
12,000 ft?
Weight – 4,000 lbs
Pressure altitude – 5,000 ft.
Temperature - 30°C
What is the maximum rate of
climb under the given
conditions?
Weight – 3,700 lbs
Pressure altitude – 22,000 ft.
Temperature - -10°C
What is the maximum rate of
climb under the given
conditions?
Example 1.
Airport pressure altitude – 2,000 ft.
Airport temperature - 20°C
Cruise pressure altitude – 10,000 ft.
Cruise temperature - 0°C
What will be the fuel, time, and distance required to climb to cruise altitude under
the given conditions?
Example 2.
Airport pressure altitude – 4,000 ft.
Airport temperature - 12°C
Cruise pressure altitude – 9,000 ft.
Cruise temperature - -4°C
What will be the distance required to climb to cruise altitude under the given
conditions?
If the cruise altitude is 7,500
ft. using 64 percent power at
2,500 RPM, what would be
the range with 48 gallons of
usable fuel?
What would be the
approximate true airspeed and
fuel consumption per hour at
an altitude of 5,000 feet, using
55 percent power?
What is the expected fuel consumption for a 500NM flight under the following condition:
Pressure altitude – 4,000 ft.
Temperature - +29 °C
Manifold pressure – 21.3” Hg
Wind - Calm
What is the expected fuel consumption for a 1,000NM flight under the following condition:
Pressure altitude – 8,000 ft.
Temperature - +22 °C
Manifold pressure – 20.8” Hg
Wind - Calm
Pressure altitude – 18,000 ft.
Temperature – (-21°C)
Power – 2,400 RPM -28” MP
Recommended lean mixture
usable fuel – 425 lbs.
What is the approximate flight
time available under the given
conditions? (Allow for VFR
day fuel reserve.)
Pressure altitude – 18,000 ft.
Temperature – (-1°C)
Power – 2,200 RPM -20” MP
Recommended lean mixture
usable fuel – 344 lbs.
What is the approximate flight
time available under the given
conditions? (Allow for VFR day
fuel reserve.)
Pressure altitude – 6,000 ft.
Temperature – (+3°C)
Power – 2,200 RPM -22” MP
Recommended lean mixture
usable fuel – 465 lbs.
What is the maximum available
flight time under the conditions
stated?
Pressure altitude – 6,000 ft.
Temperature – (+13°C)
Power – 2,500 RPM -23” MP
Recommended lean mixture
usable fuel – 460 lbs.
What is the maximum available
flight time under the conditions
stated?
Fuel quantity -65 gallons
Best power (level flight) – 55%
Approximately how much flight
time would be available with a
day VFR fuel reserve
remaining?
Fuel quantity -47 gallons
Power-cruise (lean) – 55%
Approximately how much flight
time would be available with a
night VFR fuel reserve
remaining?
Approximately how much fuel
would be consumed when
climbing at 75% power for 7
minutes?
Temperature - 80 °F
Pressure altitude – 4,000 ft.
Weight – 2,800 lbs.
Headwind – 24 knots
What is the total landing
distance over a 50-foot
obstacle?
Temperature – 50 °F
Pressure altitude- Sea level
Weight – 3,000 lbs.
Headwind – 10 knots
Determine the approximate
ground roll.
The End