Angle of Climb
Encyclopedia
In aerodynamics
, angle of climb is the ratio between distance travelled over the ground and altitude
gained. The angle of climb can be expressed as the angle between a plane horizontal to the Earth's surface and the actual flight path followed by the aircraft during its ascent. See remarks on the notations used for best angle of climb speed Vx in the article on rate of climb
.
This v-speed is the one a pilot uses when executing a "short field" takeoff, because it gains the most altitude in a given distance. Rate of climb
is not a critical factor, for the best angle of climb speed may in fact be slower than the best rate of climb speed, and clearing an obstacle is not something that is time dependent.
Best angle of climb airspeed for an airplane is the speed at which the maximum excess thrust is available. Excess thrust is the difference between the total drag of the aircraft, and the thrust output of the powerplant. For a jet aircraft, this speed is very close to the speed at which the total minimum drag occurs.
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
, angle of climb is the ratio between distance travelled over the ground and altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
gained. The angle of climb can be expressed as the angle between a plane horizontal to the Earth's surface and the actual flight path followed by the aircraft during its ascent. See remarks on the notations used for best angle of climb speed Vx in the article on rate of climb
Rate of climb
In aeronautics, the rate of climb is an aircraft's vertical speed - the rate of change in altitude. In most ICAO member countries , this is usually expressed in feet per minute and can be abbreviated as ft/min. Elsewhere, it is commonly expressed in metres per second, abbreviated as m/s...
.
This v-speed is the one a pilot uses when executing a "short field" takeoff, because it gains the most altitude in a given distance. Rate of climb
Rate of climb
In aeronautics, the rate of climb is an aircraft's vertical speed - the rate of change in altitude. In most ICAO member countries , this is usually expressed in feet per minute and can be abbreviated as ft/min. Elsewhere, it is commonly expressed in metres per second, abbreviated as m/s...
is not a critical factor, for the best angle of climb speed may in fact be slower than the best rate of climb speed, and clearing an obstacle is not something that is time dependent.
Best angle of climb airspeed for an airplane is the speed at which the maximum excess thrust is available. Excess thrust is the difference between the total drag of the aircraft, and the thrust output of the powerplant. For a jet aircraft, this speed is very close to the speed at which the total minimum drag occurs.