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Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between the various parts of the aircraft. For a given angle-of In steady-attack and thus a given L/D ratio, in unpoweredstate gliding flight, L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * (sine (glide angle)) = W * sine (arctan (D/L)). Therefore in steady-state gliding flight, the L and D values are completely determined by the L/D ratio which is completely determined by the angle-of-attack, regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D. Therefore-- ignoring Reynold's number effects--5 Therefore there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the cosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. We refer to a hang glider specifically, because the wing shape of a paraglider or parafoil may have no tendency to trim to any given angle-of-attack without the pilot attached, even the wing could somehow be made to maintain its shape. Note also that we're assuming the pilot either has his "hang strap" attached somewhat below the CG of the wing itself, or we're assuming that the pilot is holding himself in a fixed position relative to the control frame. If neither of these things are true-- if the pilot's weight is attached exactly at the CG of the wing, and the pilot is just hanging freely and exerting no muscle force on the control frame, then his weight effectively acts at the CG of the wing, not below it. In a paraglider or parafoil, the multiple lines act as fixed struts that hold the pilot in a completely fixed position relative to the wing, unless he is making intentional control inputs by pulling on the lines etc, so in way these aircraft provide an even better example of the dynamics we're exploring, except for the lack of inherent pitch stability in the wing itself -- these aircraft are totally dependent on "pendulum stability*.

  3. See footnote (1).

  4. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

  5. Ignoring any variation in lift and drag coefficients due to Reynolds number. Note that if the drag coefficients of the pilot and the wing are affected differently by the change in Reynolds number due to decreased air density and increased TAS, then that could produce a change in the trim angle-of-attack and L/D ratio, even if the L/D ratio corresponding to any given angle-of-attack remained unchanged. Note also that if we're bringing Reynold's number effects into the picture, we can't assume that the L/D ratio corresponding to any given angle-of-attack will remain unchanged. So-- "it's complicated". But the effect of changes in Reynold's number on the lift and drag coefficients appears to be beyond the intended scope of the question.

Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between the various parts of the aircraft. For a given angle-of-attack and thus a given L/D ratio, in unpowered flight L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * sine (arctan (D/L)), regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D. Therefore-- ignoring Reynold's number effects-- there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the cosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. We refer to a hang glider specifically, because the wing shape of a paraglider or parafoil may have no tendency to trim to any given angle-of-attack without the pilot attached, even the wing could somehow be made to maintain its shape. Note also that we're assuming the pilot either has his "hang strap" attached somewhat below the CG of the wing itself, or we're assuming that the pilot is holding himself in a fixed position relative to the control frame. If neither of these things are true-- if the pilot's weight is attached exactly at the CG of the wing, and the pilot is just hanging freely and exerting no muscle force on the control frame, then his weight effectively acts at the CG of the wing, not below it. In a paraglider or parafoil, the multiple lines act as fixed struts that hold the pilot in a completely fixed position relative to the wing, unless he is making intentional control inputs by pulling on the lines etc, so in way these aircraft provide an even better example of the dynamics we're exploring, except for the lack of inherent pitch stability in the wing itself -- these aircraft are totally dependent on "pendulum stability*.

  3. See footnote (1).

  4. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between the various parts of the aircraft. In steady-state gliding flight, L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * (sine (glide angle)) = W * sine (arctan (D/L)). Therefore in steady-state gliding flight, the L and D values are completely determined by the L/D ratio which is completely determined by the angle-of-attack, regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D.5 Therefore there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the cosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. We refer to a hang glider specifically, because the wing shape of a paraglider or parafoil may have no tendency to trim to any given angle-of-attack without the pilot attached, even the wing could somehow be made to maintain its shape. Note also that we're assuming the pilot either has his "hang strap" attached somewhat below the CG of the wing itself, or we're assuming that the pilot is holding himself in a fixed position relative to the control frame. If neither of these things are true-- if the pilot's weight is attached exactly at the CG of the wing, and the pilot is just hanging freely and exerting no muscle force on the control frame, then his weight effectively acts at the CG of the wing, not below it. In a paraglider or parafoil, the multiple lines act as fixed struts that hold the pilot in a completely fixed position relative to the wing, unless he is making intentional control inputs by pulling on the lines etc, so in way these aircraft provide an even better example of the dynamics we're exploring, except for the lack of inherent pitch stability in the wing itself -- these aircraft are totally dependent on "pendulum stability*.

  3. See footnote (1).

  4. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

  5. Ignoring any variation in lift and drag coefficients due to Reynolds number. Note that if the drag coefficients of the pilot and the wing are affected differently by the change in Reynolds number due to decreased air density and increased TAS, then that could produce a change in the trim angle-of-attack and L/D ratio, even if the L/D ratio corresponding to any given angle-of-attack remained unchanged. Note also that if we're bringing Reynold's number effects into the picture, we can't assume that the L/D ratio corresponding to any given angle-of-attack will remain unchanged. So-- "it's complicated". But the effect of changes in Reynold's number on the lift and drag coefficients appears to be beyond the intended scope of the question.

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Now, if we were varying the glide ratio by deploying wing-mounted spoilers, or by adding some power, then in ansome hypothetical aircraft (perhaps with an autopilot in the loop?) that tended to trimalways trimmed to a given pitch attitude, that would generate a change in angle-of-attack, and therefore a large change in Indicated airspeed1, even if.

Note also that if the spoilers (or the thrust lineforce) generated no pitching moment relative to the aerodynamic center of the aircraft, they would generate a strong pitch torque relative to the CG of the aircraft, if the CG is far below the aerodynamic center of the aircraft. This would result in a change in the trim angle-of-attack.

OneIn the hang glider case specifically2, one valid way to understandanalyze this situation is to note thatview the aerodynamic center is far abovewing itself as a free body, with a tendency to trim to given specific angle-of-attack, while the CGpilot's body exerts a pitch torque on the wing that (at least in an aircraftsteady-state flight) varies with the pitch attitude of the aircraft and thus tends to bias the angle-of-attack in a way that reliesis dependent on "pendulum stability", so a forcepitch attitude.

Another valid way to analyze this situation is to simply note that passes directly through the aerodynamic centerspoiler (or the thrust force) is generating a net pitching torque about the CG of the aircraftwhole system, and therefore actseven if it is acting with zero moment-arm relative to the aerodynamic center of the aircraft, still generates a strong pitch torque relative to the CG of the aircraftwing.

If we introduce a thrust force that acts through the CG of the whole system, rather than through the aerodynamic center of system, we'll find that the wing still tends to trim to a constant angle-of-attack (and thus a nearly constant airspeed23) as we vary the thrust force, even though the pitch attitude will vary with the climb or descent angle.

So even though the "pendulum stability" provided by the arrangement of the CG far below the aerodynamic center of the wing does play an important role in the flight dynamics of parafoils, paragliders, hang gliders (in the case where pilot is holding a fixed position in the control frame), etc, it's not really true that such aircraft have an absolute tendency to trim to a fixed pitch attitude. But for the simple case of steady-state34 wings-level gliding flight in a fixed configuration, that is a valid way to look at the dynamics. We'll come up with a "no" answer to the questions quoted above regardless of whether we view the aircraft as tending to trim to a constant angle-of-attack, or to a constant pitch attitude.

Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between the various parts of the aircraft. For a given angle-of-attack and thus a given L/D ratio, in unpowered flight L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * sine (arctan (D/L)), regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D. Therefore-- ignoring Reynold's number effects-- there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

Read more about "pendulum" pitch stability in this answer to a related ASE question: Does "pendulum effect" apply to hang gliders or any aircraft?

Footnotes:

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the cosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. We refer to a hang glider specifically, because the wing shape of a paraglider or parafoil may have no tendency to trim to any given angle-of-attack without the pilot attached, even the wing could somehow be made to maintain its shape. Note also that we're assuming the pilot either has his "hang strap" attached somewhat below the CG of the wing itself, or we're assuming that the pilot is holding himself in a fixed position relative to the control frame. If neither of these things are true-- if the pilot's weight is attached exactly at the CG of the wing, and the pilot is just hanging freely and exerting no muscle force on the control frame, then his weight effectively acts at the CG of the wing, not below it. In a paraglider or parafoil, the multiple lines act as fixed struts that hold the pilot in a completely fixed position relative to the wing, unless he is making intentional control inputs by pulling on the lines etc, so in way these aircraft provide an even better example of the dynamics we're exploring, except for the lack of inherent pitch stability in the wing itself -- these aircraft are totally dependent on "pendulum stability*.

  3. See footnote (1).

  4. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

Now, if we were varying the glide ratio by deploying wing-mounted spoilers, or by adding some power, then in an aircraft that tended to trim to a given pitch attitude, that would generate a change in angle-of-attack, and therefore a large change in Indicated airspeed1, even if the spoilers (or the thrust line) generated no pitching moment relative to the aerodynamic center of the aircraft.

One way to understand this is to note that the aerodynamic center is far above the CG in an aircraft that relies on "pendulum stability", so a force that passes directly through the aerodynamic center of the aircraft, and therefore acts with zero moment-arm relative to the aerodynamic center of the aircraft, still generates a strong pitch torque relative to the CG of the aircraft.

If we introduce a thrust force that acts through the CG of the whole system, rather than the aerodynamic center of system, we'll find that the wing still tends to trim to a constant angle-of-attack (and thus a nearly constant airspeed2) as we vary the thrust force, even though the pitch attitude will vary with the climb or descent angle.

So even though the "pendulum stability" provided by the arrangement of the CG far below the aerodynamic center of the wing does play an important role in the flight dynamics of parafoils, paragliders, hang gliders (in the case where pilot is holding a fixed position in the control frame), etc, it's not really true that such aircraft have an absolute tendency to trim to a fixed pitch attitude. But for the simple case of steady-state3 wings-level gliding flight in a fixed configuration, that is a valid way to look at the dynamics.

Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between various parts of the aircraft. For a given angle-of-attack and thus a given L/D ratio, in unpowered flight L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * sine (arctan (D/L)), regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D. Therefore-- ignoring Reynold's number effects-- there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

Footnotes:

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the cosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. See footnote (1).

  3. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

Now, if we were varying the glide ratio by deploying wing-mounted spoilers, or by adding some power, then in some hypothetical aircraft (perhaps with an autopilot in the loop?) that always trimmed to a given pitch attitude, that would generate a change in angle-of-attack, and therefore a large change in Indicated airspeed1.

Note also that if the spoilers (or the thrust force) generated no pitching moment relative to the aerodynamic center of the aircraft, they would generate a strong pitch torque relative to the CG of the aircraft, if the CG is far below the aerodynamic center of the aircraft. This would result in a change in the trim angle-of-attack.

In the hang glider case specifically2, one valid way to analyze this situation is to view the wing itself as a free body, with a tendency to trim to given specific angle-of-attack, while the pilot's body exerts a pitch torque on the wing that (at least in steady-state flight) varies with the pitch attitude of the aircraft and thus tends to bias the angle-of-attack in a way that is dependent on pitch attitude.

Another valid way to analyze this situation is to simply note that the spoiler (or the thrust force) is generating a net pitching torque about the CG of the whole system, even if it is acting with zero moment-arm relative to the aerodynamic center of the wing.

If we introduce a thrust force that acts through the CG of the whole system, rather than through the aerodynamic center of system, we'll find that the wing still tends to trim to a constant angle-of-attack (and thus a nearly constant airspeed3) as we vary the thrust force, even though the pitch attitude will vary with the climb or descent angle.

So even though the "pendulum stability" provided by the arrangement of the CG far below the aerodynamic center of the wing does play an important role in the flight dynamics of parafoils, paragliders, hang gliders (in the case where pilot is holding a fixed position in the control frame), etc, it's not really true that such aircraft have an absolute tendency to trim to a fixed pitch attitude. But for the simple case of steady-state4 wings-level gliding flight in a fixed configuration, that is a valid way to look at the dynamics. We'll come up with a "no" answer to the questions quoted above regardless of whether we view the aircraft as tending to trim to a constant angle-of-attack, or to a constant pitch attitude.

Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between the various parts of the aircraft. For a given angle-of-attack and thus a given L/D ratio, in unpowered flight L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * sine (arctan (D/L)), regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D. Therefore-- ignoring Reynold's number effects-- there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

Read more about "pendulum" pitch stability in this answer to a related ASE question: Does "pendulum effect" apply to hang gliders or any aircraft?

Footnotes:

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the cosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. We refer to a hang glider specifically, because the wing shape of a paraglider or parafoil may have no tendency to trim to any given angle-of-attack without the pilot attached, even the wing could somehow be made to maintain its shape. Note also that we're assuming the pilot either has his "hang strap" attached somewhat below the CG of the wing itself, or we're assuming that the pilot is holding himself in a fixed position relative to the control frame. If neither of these things are true-- if the pilot's weight is attached exactly at the CG of the wing, and the pilot is just hanging freely and exerting no muscle force on the control frame, then his weight effectively acts at the CG of the wing, not below it. In a paraglider or parafoil, the multiple lines act as fixed struts that hold the pilot in a completely fixed position relative to the wing, unless he is making intentional control inputs by pulling on the lines etc, so in way these aircraft provide an even better example of the dynamics we're exploring, except for the lack of inherent pitch stability in the wing itself -- these aircraft are totally dependent on "pendulum stability*.

  3. See footnote (1).

  4. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

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Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between various parts of the aircraft. For a given angle-of-attack and thus a given L/D ratio, in unpowered flight L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * sine (arctan (D/L)), regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D. Therefore-- ignoring Reynold's number effects-- there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

Footnotes:

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the sinecosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. See footnote (1).

  3. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

Footnotes:

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the sine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. See footnote (1).

  3. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

Addendum: a comment by the questioner has indicated that he believes that Drag may be reduced during flight at high altitudes, and wonders if the Drag is reduced proportionally on all parts of the aircraft, and if not, whether this would affect the aircraft's trim angle-of-attack, considering the large vertical distance between various parts of the aircraft. For a given angle-of-attack and thus a given L/D ratio, in unpowered flight L = W * cosine (glide angle) = W * cosine (arctan (D/L)), and D = W * sine (arctan (D/L)), regardless of how high the Indicated Airspeed must be to generate those values of L and D. Therefore-- ignoring Reynold's number effects-- there is no reduction in drag on any part of the aircraft just because the altitude is increased.

Footnotes:

  1. Consider an aircraft whose trim characteristics are such that it perfectly holds a given angle-of-attack regardless of changes in thrust, or changes in configuration that increase the drag coefficient (without affecting the lift coefficient). Even such an aircraft will still experience some change in Indicated airspeed when the Thrust is altered, or when the drag coefficient is altered. The reason for this is that the total Lift required for steady-speed (wings-level) flight is not constant, but rather varies according to the cosine of the descent or climb angle. For more, see this related ASE answer: Does lift equal weight in a climb?

  2. See footnote (1).

  3. Re "steady-state": for further insight into what "pendulum stability" does and does not mean, search up some videos of hang glider and paraglider aerobatics. Though limited to positive G-loadings, the maneuvers that can be performed in such aircraft may surprise the reader!

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