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Total Drag Curve

As we lay the foundation for our analysis of flight for range and endurance and for climb performance we must learn to visualize the total drag curve. We must become good at visualizing how the curve will change when we do things such as climb or descend, or extend and retract flaps. It will also be quite educational if we can learn to visualize how changes to the airplane design such as aspect ratio and wing loading will affect the curve. This will help us understand why airplanes with different characteristics are suited for different roles in aviation.

The following simulation plots parasite drag, induced drag and total drag (in blue.) You can change tall the design parameters of the airplane, as follows:

• Drag the W icon up or down to change weight
• Drag the S icon up or down to change wing area
• Drag the green nav light on the right wing in or out to change aspect ratio
• Click on the value of e (Oswald Efficiency Factor) - click on the left to decrease and the right to increase
• Extend the gear or flaps - note the change in C_Dp
• Click directly on the C_Dp - click on the left to decrease and the right to increase

You can also change altitude and angle of attack, as follows:

• Press the E-key to increase density altitude (hold the shift key for larger changes)
• Press the C-key to decrease density altitude (hold the shift key for larger changes)
• Press the up arrow-key to reduce angle of Attack (AOA is displayed at bottom of CL vs. AOA graph)
• Press the down arrow-key to increase AOA