The Bootstrap Approach to Predicting Airplane Flight Performance

Author(s)

John T. Lowry

Volume

6

Issue

1

Abstract

The Bootstrap Approach (TBA) to fight performance is, for fixed-pitch propeller-driven airplanes, a set of simple formulas in nine aircraft parameters-four from brief flight tests-plus the variables of aircraft weight and air density. The formulas are derivable from the empirically supported linearity of the propeller polar. TBA outputs include five full-throttle or gliding V-speeds (V_x V_y V_m V_bg V_md) and a common version of long range cruise speed (V_LRC) as well as, for any air speed, thrust, drag, rate of climb (thereby service ceiling) or descent, and flight path angle. Knowledge of engine speed (RPM) and fuel consumption rate allows calculation of (partial-throttle) speeds V_br for best range and V_be for best endurance. An extension of TBA to airplanes with constant-speed propellers substitutes two different propeller parameters and suggests a general propeller chart. Though based on empirical graphs rather than formulas, this extension easily incorporates partial-throttle operation.

Scholarly Commons Citation

Lowry, J. T. (1995). The Bootstrap Approach to Predicting Airplane Flight Performance. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 6(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15394/jaaer.1995.1167