Archived from groups: alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim (
More info?)
Thanks for taking the time to give a lengthly explanation of what is going
on when a plane has some positive pitch at high altitudes. Every since I
got FS 2004 I have been learning something about the science of flying
almost every day. Thanks again.
Jack
"nooneimportant" <no.spam@me> wrote in message
news
3pje.506$rr.122@fed1read01...
>
> "Jackson K McAfee" <mcafeej@digital.net> wrote in message
> news:1Smje.4898$uR4.1619@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>> What are the flight dynamics that make this necessary. It seems to me
>> that it reduces the cruising speed somewhat, creates additional drag
>> which leads to lower fuel efficiency. And yet the Dash 8 is touted for
>> its fuel efficiency. How does this work out? Just curious.
>> Jack
>> "Clamer Meltzer" <clamer.meltzer@c2i.net> wrote in message
>> news:aflje.682$qE.135857@juliett.dax.net...
>>>
>>> "Jackson K McAfee" <mcafeej@digital.net> skrev i melding
>>> news:U58je.7440$w21.1012@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>>>> I have noticed when flying the Dash 8 Q300 using auto pilot that above
>>>> 20,000 feet the plane flies with about a 3 degree pitch. Is this the
>>>> way
>>> it
>>>> flies in real life or is this just a peculiar thing with the software.
>>> Just
>>>> curious.
>>>> Jack
>>>
>>> Pretty much like in real life, differs slightly with weight of course.
>>> I`ve
>>> seen as much as 5 degrees pitch up during cruise over FL 200.
>>>
>>> CF
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
> IN a nutshell.... As you climb the atmospheric density decreases.... as
> that density decreases the ability of a wing to produce lift decreases.
> There are several ways to increas lift on a wing, you can increase speed,
> increase wing surface area, or increase angle of attack. Increasing
> speed may not be all that practical at that altitude...after all you want
> to stay fuel effecient. Increasing surface area is valid in some
> instances (FLAPS), but creates way to much drag to use in cruise (creates
> a fuel economy issue, as well as structural integrity). The only real
> option left is to increase AOA, has the least effect on fuel burn, and is
> most easilly implemented.
>
>
> Relate that to nearly ANY aircraft flying... and you will almost always
> see a measurable pitch up related between the wings/relative wind. MOST
> airplanes have an inbuilt angle (called the angle of incidence) to insure
> a positive AOA when sitting still and parked on the ramp (or going down
> the runway for that matter), and this does help keep the nose slightly
> lower in cruise, but will still usually result in a nose high attitude.
>
> Another thing to consider... in large aircraft a notable percentage of
> lift does not come from the differential pressure on the wings (AKA
> bernoulli's principle), but by Newtons 3rd law stating that for every
> action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As airflow impacts the
> bottom of the wing.fuselage.whatever it gets deflected downward, resulting
> in a force equal to the deflictive force pushing in the opposite direction
> of the airplane, usually UP, sometimes with a sligthly aft component. By
> keeping a slightly higher nose up attitude more of "Newtons lift" can come
> into play.
>
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