Re:Gimli Glider
by plafl on Monday December 19, 2016 @06:05AM
(#13210702)
Related fact: the glide ratio does not depend on the aircraft weight, only on the aerodynamic efficiency (the ratio between your lift and your drag), so it is useless to throw weight to reach further like maybe you have seen sometimes on movies. Less weight will make you descend slower but not further. Normally, the longer your wing, the higher your efficiency. See for example the pictures here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(aeronautics)
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Losing weight will reduce stall speed, allowing for a slower and safer landing. Modern competitive gliders carry a substantial quantity of water ballast - the extra weight improves glide speeds, but it can be jettisoned before landing.