Lecture 5:

Climb
PERFORMANCE
AIRCRAFT WEIGHT &
PERFORMANCE
Introduction
• One of the most important aspects of aircraft
performance is the ability to climb.

• CLIMB starts after take off and it ends when

aircraft levels off at the cruising level.
Cruise / En-route
Climb
Descend
Approach &
Take-of Landing
Phases of flight
Introduction
• An aircraft can climb only if it can produce excess
thrust (thrust minus drag).
• This excess thrust is needed to overcome drag.
• For example, if an aircraft is producing 1,000
pounds of thrust and has 700 pounds of drag, it
would have 300 pounds of excess thrust available.
Climb Gradient/Angle of climb
• For the first portion of the climb it is more important
to consider the climb gradient or angle of climb.

• Why ??

Climb gradient or angle of climb is important to

ensure aircraft overfly the obstacles in the
departure area at a safe altitude.
It is defined as minimum obstacle clearance
Climb Gradient
• The climb gradient by definition is the ratio of
height gained to the horizontal distance traveled by
aircraft.
• Basically, climb gradient depends on the difference
between the thrust and drag (the excess thrust) and the
mass of the aircraft.
• Factors that affect these forces will have affect on the
climb gradient.

Climb gradient = (THRUST - DRAG) / WEIGHT

EXCESS THRUST
Angle of climb
• The angle of climb is the angle between height
gained to the horizontal distance traveled by
aircraft during climb.

Angle of climb ,   sin 1 (THRUST - DRAG) / WEIGHT

Climb Gradient/Angle of Climb

Climb gradient = tan() = sin() = (THRUST - DRAG) / WEIGHT

Angle of climb ,   sin 1 (THRUST - DRAG) / WEIGHT

Rate of Climb (ROC).
• When the obstacles are over flown it is the
important to consider the rate of climb.
• Rate of climb is the vertical component of the speed,
, expressed in feet per minute. It depends on the
airspeed (V) and the angle of climb or climb
gradient.
• Rate of climb = V x sin () = V x Climb gradient = V x
(Thrust – Drag) / Weight
• Best rate of climb is important to ensure aircraft
reach required altitude in the minimum time.
Three types of climb
NORMAL CLIMB
• Normal climb is performed at an airspeed recommended
by the airplane manufacturer.
• Normal climb speed is generally somewhat higher than the
airplane’s best rate of climb.
• The additional airspeed provides better engine cooling,
easier control, and better visibility over the nose. Normal
climb is sometimes referred to as “cruise climb.”
• Complex or high performance airplanes may have a
specified cruise climb in addition to normal climb.
Two Airspeed during climb
• There are two airspeeds relating to climb
performance which are, Vx and Vy.
a) Vx is the indicated airspeed for best angle of climb.
b) Vy is the indicated airspeed for best rate of climb.

• Best Angle of Climb Speed (Vx)

• Gain maximum altitude in shortest distance
• Best Rate of Climb Speed (VY )
• Gain maximum altitude in shortest time
• Best angle-of climb airspeed (Vx) is considerably lower
than best rate of climb (VY ).
Best Angle of Climb Speed (Vx)
• Best angle of climb airspeed for an airplane is the
speed at which the maximum excess thrust is
available over that required for level flight.
• The best angle of climb will result in a steeper
climb path, although the airplane will take longer
to reach the same altitude than it would at best
rate of climb.
• The best angle of climb, therefore, is used in
clearing obstacles after takeoff.
Best Rate of Climb Speed (VY )
• Best rate of climb (VY) is performed at an airspeed where
the most excess power is available over that required for
level flight. Rate of climb = V x (THRUST - DRAG) / WEIGHT
• This condition of climb will produce the most gain in
altitude in the least amount of time (maximum rate of
climb in feet per minute).
• To calculate an aircraft's climb rate in feet per minute,
multiply the constant 33,000 by the excess thrust
horsepower divided by weight.
• The rate of climb (ROC) can be found by the simple
formula: Excess Power
ROC   33'000
Weight
Best V x or Best VY

• For each climb the pilot must determine whether it is

more important to climb at the steepest angle (best Vx)
to clear obstacles, or at the fastest rate (best Vy).
Example
• F-16 fighter aircraft, for example, according to the
Lockheed Martin Corporation, climbs at 50,000 feet per
minute at sea level.

An F-15 Eagle climbing and releasing

flares.
Example
• The greater the excess thrust, the steeper(almost
perpendicular) the possible climb.
• To perform this vertical climb, the amount of
thrust created must equal the drag the aircraft is
experiencing plus the entire weight of the aircraft.
• If a jet aircraft has more thrust available than the
sum of weight and drag, not only could it climb
straight up, it could also accelerate its airspeed
while climbing
 Factors Affecting the
Climb performance (Climb Angle and
Rate of Climb)
Speed and
Acceleration
Aircraft
Mass
Temperature
& Air Density

Wind

Retraction of flap
and landing gear

Cabin Pressurization
SPEED AND ACCELERATION
• When the aircraft is accelerating during climb
some portion of the excess thrust is required for
the acceleration, so there will be less excess
thrust and therefore reduce the angle of climb.
AIRCRAFT MASS
• Increased mass gives higher drag which reduces
the excess thrust (the difference between the
thrust and drag), and therefore reduces the climb
angle for a given thrust & reduces the rate of
climb.
TEMPERATURE
• The higher the air temperature, less thrust can be
produced by the engines.
• Because of that the difference between the thrust
and the drag during climb is smaller. Therefore the
climb gradient & the rate of climb will be reduced.
AIR DENSITY
• Density Altitude (increasing altitude thus
decreasing density) will reduce thrust and
therefore reduce the climb angle & the rate of
climb.
WIND
• In wind conditions, headwind or tailwind will have affect
on the aircraft’s ground speed.
• So, a headwind will reduce the ground speed and
therefore reduce the horizontal distance that an aircraft
travels in comparison to the no wind conditions.
• Therefore a headwind gives increased climb angle, while
a tailwind affects in opposite direction and gives reduced
climb angle. Crosswind component has no effect on the
climb gradient.
WIND HAS NO AFFECT ON THE RATE OF CLIMB
 Retraction of flap and landing gear
• When the flap and landing gears are retracted, the
drag is reduced, resulting in an increase in excess
thrust, therefore the rate of climb is increased.
Cabin pressurization
• The rate of change of the cabin pressure has to be
proportional to the rate of change of the atmospheric
pressure (rate of climb).
• Modern aircraft operate at high altitudes and can achieve
high rates of climb.
• In order to take advantage of these properties the interior
of an aircraft flying at high altitude is pressurized to allow
passengers and crew to function normally without any
need for additional oxygen.
• Cabin pressurization systems are designed to produce
conditions equivalent to those at approximately 8000 feet.
Cabin pressurization
• When the aircraft is climbing, the change of cabin pressure
is proportional to the change of the ambient pressure, in
order to control the structural stress on the fuselage from
the inside.
• This is performed automatically by sophisticated control
system.
• However, if the cabin pressure is manually controlled or in
case of system degradation, care should be taken to ensure
that the climb rates are safe and ensure that the structural
stress is not exceeding the maximum limit.
Cabin pressurization
• The maximum rate of climb is therefore limited.
• When exceeded the aircraft structure is overstressed from
inside and structural failure (explosion) is possible.
• Passengers comfort is also a factor.
• Usually the best comfort is achieved at rates of climb of
1500 feet per minute.
Summary
There are three climbing flight conditions:
1. Steepest climb (best angle of climb)-to clear obstacle
after take-off
2. Fastest climb (best rate of climb)-to reach cruise
altitude with minimum time.
3. Economical climb (less fuel consumption)
The airspeed for economical climb is lower than
that for fastest climb but is much closer to the fastest
climb airspeed than to the steepest climb airspeed.
Summary
Factors affecting climb performance
• Greater mass reduced climb angle and rate of climb.
• Higher temperature, lower air density also reduced
climb angle and rate of climb.
• Headwind condition, greater climb angle. Tailwind
reduce climb angle. Wind no effect on rate of climb.
• Quick retraction of flaps and landing gear, greater
climb angle and greater speed.
Question Bank
1. An aircraft will be taking-off from a sea-level airfield, and
climbing to a cruising level of FL75 (i.e. 7500ft pressure
altitude). Using Fuel Time Distance Climb table & assume
condition during no wind, calculate:
a) How long will the climb take (time)?
b) How much fuel used?
c) How far the climb distance?

2. Based on question 1, calculate the climb distance traveled

if there is 15knot tailwind.