AboutPaul Soderman Expertise Aeronautics, Fluid Mechanics, Aeroacoustics, Noise Control, Muffler Design, Wind Tunnel Research.... I know nothing about India - do not ask about schools, jobs, application requirements, career choices, etc. for India. Please, no text message verbiage; I prefer full words in full sentences. Thanks.
Experience 38 years as research engineer at NASA
Publications AIAA, NASA
Education/Credentials B.S. and M.S. Aeronautical Engineering - U. of Washington
Graduate work Standford U.
Awards and Honors AIAA Associate Fellow (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
Question The pilot of a small plan is flying downwind and realizes that he needs to gain altitude quickly to reach an altitude sufficient to clear a mountain. Will the pilot reach the desired altitude in a faster distance if he turns the airplane into the wind to gain altitude? If so, what elements are at work?
Answer Brent
There are two coordinate systems at work here - one fixed to the ground and one moving at the wind speed. If an airplane is flying at 100 knots relative to the moving coordinate system in a 100 knot wind in the same direction, his ground speed is 200 knots. If his climb rate is 1 to 10 in still air (he climbs one meter for every 10 meters forward), he will travel 20 meters over the ground flying downwind for every 1 meter of climb. If he turns around and flies upwind, he will travel 0 meters over the ground for every 1 meter of climb. So, he better turn around to avoid the mountain.
Paul
