What causes an airplane to achieve a sustained climb?

What causes an airplane to achieve a sustained climb?

Climbing requires an excess of lift over that necessary to maintain level flight. Increased lift will generate more induced drag. That increase in induced drag is why more power is needed and why a sustained climb requires an excess of thrust.

What causes an airplane except a T tail to pitch nose down when power is reduced and controls are not adjusted?

What causes an airplane (except a T tail) to pitch nose down when power is reduced and controls are not adjusted? The downwash on the elevators from the propeller slipstream is reduced and elevator effectiveness is reduced.

Is a climbing aircraft in equilibrium?

When the sum of forces in one direction balance the sum of forces in the opposite direction, an airplane is in equilibrium. This is apparent in straight and level flight. Consider this, can an airplane be in equilibrium when it is transitioning into a climb or descent? No, it cannot – at least, not while transitioning.

When an aircraft is flying at a high AOA?

An increase in angle of attack results in an increase in both lift and induced drag, up to a point. Too high an angle of attack (usually around 17 degrees) and the airflow across the upper surface of the aerofoil becomes detached, resulting in a loss of lift, otherwise known as a Stall.

What is happening when an airplane is climbing and what is the indication of the best rate of climb?

Initial Climb Upon lift-off, the airplane should be flying at approximately the pitch attitude that allows it to accelerate to VY. This is the speed at which the airplane gains the most altitude in the shortest period of time.

Why is lift less than weight in a climb?

Therefore, when climbing, thrust will add some vertical component, so less lift is needed. Again, in a descent less lift is needed. Now thrust is smaller than drag, and drag, pointing slightly upwards, contributes a vertical component, counteracting weight. So in both cases lift is smaller than weight.

Why does lift decrease in a climb?

Therefore, a climbing aircraft requires less lift. To maintain this direction and velocity, this pilot must reduce lift by reducing the angle of attack, and increase thrust such that the vectors add to zero and there’s no net force on the aircraft. Reducing lift will also reduce drag.

Why does RPM decrease in a climb?

As the airplane climbs into thinner air at higher altitude, the prop blades meet less air resistance and full throttle continues to develop near-redline rpm, though both horsepower and thrust decrease. Eventually, engine power is reduced so severely that rpm begins to fall.

What happens to the AOA and lift during a climb?

After the flight path is stabilized on the upward incline, the AOA and lift again revert to about the level flight values. If the climb is entered with no change in power setting, the airspeed gradually diminishes because the thrust required to maintain a given airspeed in level flight is insufficient to maintain the same airspeed in a climb.

Does the angle of attack of the wing change during climb?

Although the aircraft’s flight path changed when the climb was established, the angle of attack (AOA) of the wing with respect to the inclined flight path reverts to practically the same values, as does the lift. There is an initial momentary change as shown in the figure below.

What happens when you raise the nose of an aircraft?

Raising the aircraft’s nose increases the AOA and momentarily increases the lift. Lift at this moment is now greater than weight and starts the aircraft climbing. After the flight path is stabilized on the upward incline, the AOA and lift again revert to about the level flight values.

What causes an aircraft to descend?

Initially, the momentum of the aircraft causes the aircraft to briefly continue along the same flight path. For this instant, the AOA decreases causing the total lift to decrease. With weight now being greater than lift, the aircraft begins to descend. At the same time, the flight path goes from level to a descending flight path.