How do you measure drag on an aircraft?
Drag is the force that resists the forward motion of an aircraft in flight. It affects the performance, fuel efficiency, and safety of any aircraft. But how do you measure drag on an aircraft? In this article, you will learn about the different types of drag, the methods of estimating and measuring drag, and the factors that influence drag.
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Wind tunnel testing:This method involves placing a model of the aircraft in controlled airflow and measuring the forces acting on it. It’s like putting your plane in a giant lab, where you can observe how air moves around it without leaving the ground.
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Integrated CFD analysis:By combining wind tunnel results with computational fluid dynamics, or CFD, you get a detailed simulation of airflow. It's like having a high-tech crystal ball that shows how your actual aircraft will handle the skies.