propeller aircraft performance essay
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School
Liberty University *
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Course
305
Subject
Industrial Engineering
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by ColonelLightningHedgehog23
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Propeller Aircraft Performance
Until recently, regional carriers have employed the use of power-producing aircraft on
short routes and thrust-producing aircraft on longer routes. The reason for these choices are due
to the performance and efficiency that each powerplant provides. As the industry evolves, the
needs will also change.
The use of power-producing (propeller) aircraft on shorter flights could be justified
through the takeoff and landing performance and the efficiency of the aircraft at slower speeds,
compared to thrust-producing (turbojet) aircraft. Propeller aircraft move a high volume of air
with minimal acceleration of the air, which produces high thrust and does not reduce efficiency
(Badick, & Johnson, 2021). This makes propeller aircraft more efficient than turbojet aircraft
regarding takeoff and landing performance (Badick, & Johnson, 2021).
The efficiency at slower
speeds is apparent when Badick and Johnson state “The P(r) curve is flatter in the low‐speed
region than the T(r) curve, but it is steeper in the high‐speed region.”. Simply stated, power-
producing aircraft operate efficiently at low speed, but lack the required power to operate at high
speed.
Though efficient at low speed, if higher speeds are attempted, once the propeller tips near
the speed of sound the propeller becomes less efficient thus limiting forward speed (Badick, &
Johnson, 2021). When higher speeds are needed, the efficiency of power-producing aircraft are
greatly diminished, which would increase not only the trip cost and ticket prices, but the time it
would take to complete the flight. With the need for faster and more efficient routes, power-
producing aircraft do not have the efficiency or the ability for higher speeds that are attainable
with thrust-producing aircraft. Thrust-producing aircraft provide the means to complete the same
route in a shorter amount of time with greater efficiency. This increase in time savings and
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efficiency means lower operating costs, potential for additional flights, and increased revenue for
the carrier.
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References
Badick, J. R., & Johnson, B. A. (2021). Flight Theory and Aerodynamics (4th ed.). Wiley
Professional Development (P&T).
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781119772415
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