# How to calculate the best climb rate and glide rate?

Considering the lift equation

$$L = C_L \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2 s$$

Given $P$ is 1,000 ft, $\rho$ is 0.002308, and $V$ is the cruise speed of a Piper Archer or 126 knots, we get

$$L = (0.4) (0.002308) (\frac{1}{2}) (126)^2 (160)$$

or 1,172.5 Newtons.

What are the pencil-and-paper formulae for calculating the best-climb and best-glide rates?

• Without a complex aerodynamic model, I'm not sure it can be calculated. Just read the POH for this info? – abelenky Sep 25 '17 at 18:02
• Are you asking about the airspeed that provides the best climb rate and glide rate, or are you asking for a way to calculate the actual vertical feet per minute, or feet per mile? – Devil07 Sep 25 '17 at 19:50
• What's the actual problem you're trying to solve? Are you curious about how the figures in the POH are calculated? Are you a student pilot wanting to know how to get this information from the table in your POH? – Dan Hulme Sep 26 '17 at 12:53
• Does this answer your question? – Peter Kämpf Sep 26 '17 at 18:45