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I would like to see the graphical relationship between thrust required and airspeed for a typical general aviation aircraft, e.g. C-150 or C172 series.

Pondlife
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Mark W
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1 Answers1

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For horizontal flight, thrust required is the same as drag. Go to the specific graph referenced in this answer How close is the air resistance or drag force to be proportional to the speed squared?, and you'll have your answer, or close to it.

The specific graph referenced here is for "a conceptual two-seat light sport aircraft (LSA) designed to cruise between 80 and 100 kts". A Cessna 150 or 172 might need somewhat more power for the same cruise speed.

quiet flyer
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  • Thanks, but I was looking for a graph, much like a glider polar. – Mark W Feb 26 '20 at 17:34
  • That's what the figure I'm referencing is-- check it out. – quiet flyer Feb 26 '20 at 17:35
  • I'm sure someone will eventually provide a link to a similar graph for a more typical GA plane but it's a start-- – quiet flyer Feb 26 '20 at 17:36
  • I couldn't locate a graph. Lots of good info though. Running out of time now, but will check in later. – Mark W Feb 26 '20 at 17:49
  • The graph is near the bottom of the linked webpage-- it's the third-to-last figure. – quiet flyer Feb 26 '20 at 17:53
  • Thanks for the dialog. I found the following graph independently. It shows the general functionality - and that is all I was looking for at this point. – Mark W Feb 27 '20 at 18:56
  • It appears impossible to post a graphic, but here is the link: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.studyflight.com%2Fflight-for-range-and endurance%2F&psig=AOvVaw273h0qbOE4yGtfoVZehxWn&ust=1582916444923000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKjTpLW18ucCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD/ – Mark W Feb 27 '20 at 19:06
  • @MarkW -- your link seems a little confused, it seems something didn't get copied right-- if you scroll to third-to-last-figure on webpage linked in my post, you'll see what I'm talking about, probably very similar to the figure you were trying to link to. – quiet flyer Feb 27 '20 at 19:20
  • you are correct. The figures are similar, as one would expect. I simply "googled" Cessna 172 drag polar. Here is (hopefully) a useable link. https://www.studyflight.com/flight-for-range-and-endurance/ – Mark W Feb 28 '20 at 20:26
  • In the first set of figures, I was looking for the graph on the left. The "total drag" vs. Air speed that was in your reference is just beside it. Thanks again...this was a fun dialog. – Mark W Feb 28 '20 at 20:30