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Clarify how angle of attack is related
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fooot
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To explain why these speeds change with weight:

VA design maneuvering speed: this is because it takes a lot more force to move a heavy plane than it does a lighter plane. On a lighter plane, the surfaces deflect, apply a force, and the plane moves. Once the plane is moving, the surfaces move too, which lessens the force on them. A heavier plane will move less, which means the surfaces are applying more force and for longer to move the plane the same amount.

VX best angle of climb speed
VY best rate of climb speed:
A heavier plane will need to produce more lift, and therefore have more drag, which affects climb performance.

VR rotation speed
VS0 landing configuration stall speed
VS1 "specific" configuration stall speed:
A heavier plane needs more airspeed to produce enough lift to take off or not stall. Here is why:

Among other things, lift is dependent on speed and angle of attack. So at a given speed, angle of attack can increase to generate more lift. The plane will have a maximum angle of attack above which it will stall. Since these are minimum speeds, they are at the maximum angle of attack, so speed must increase to provide the lift.

To explain why these speeds change with weight:

VA design maneuvering speed: this is because it takes a lot more force to move a heavy plane than it does a lighter plane. On a lighter plane, the surfaces deflect, apply a force, and the plane moves. Once the plane is moving, the surfaces move too, which lessens the force on them. A heavier plane will move less, which means the surfaces are applying more force and for longer to move the plane the same amount.

VX best angle of climb speed
VY best rate of climb speed:
A heavier plane will need to produce more lift, and therefore have more drag, which affects climb performance.

VR rotation speed
VS0 landing configuration stall speed
VS1 "specific" configuration stall speed:
A heavier plane needs more airspeed to produce enough lift to take off or not stall.

To explain why these speeds change with weight:

VA design maneuvering speed: this is because it takes a lot more force to move a heavy plane than it does a lighter plane. On a lighter plane, the surfaces deflect, apply a force, and the plane moves. Once the plane is moving, the surfaces move too, which lessens the force on them. A heavier plane will move less, which means the surfaces are applying more force and for longer to move the plane the same amount.

VX best angle of climb speed
VY best rate of climb speed:
A heavier plane will need to produce more lift, and therefore have more drag, which affects climb performance.

VR rotation speed
VS0 landing configuration stall speed
VS1 "specific" configuration stall speed:
A heavier plane needs more airspeed to produce enough lift to take off or not stall. Here is why:

Among other things, lift is dependent on speed and angle of attack. So at a given speed, angle of attack can increase to generate more lift. The plane will have a maximum angle of attack above which it will stall. Since these are minimum speeds, they are at the maximum angle of attack, so speed must increase to provide the lift.

Source Link
fooot
  • 73.8k
  • 25
  • 240
  • 434

To explain why these speeds change with weight:

VA design maneuvering speed: this is because it takes a lot more force to move a heavy plane than it does a lighter plane. On a lighter plane, the surfaces deflect, apply a force, and the plane moves. Once the plane is moving, the surfaces move too, which lessens the force on them. A heavier plane will move less, which means the surfaces are applying more force and for longer to move the plane the same amount.

VX best angle of climb speed
VY best rate of climb speed:
A heavier plane will need to produce more lift, and therefore have more drag, which affects climb performance.

VR rotation speed
VS0 landing configuration stall speed
VS1 "specific" configuration stall speed:
A heavier plane needs more airspeed to produce enough lift to take off or not stall.