Re:Belgian startup Magnax has found a way to mass-produce th...
by skykooler on Tuesday October 01, 2019 @10:09AM
(#21125469)
While drag is "independent" of mass, the lift required to maintain level flight is affected by weight, and drag is affected by lift. A heavier airplane will absolutely require more power to cruise.
It shouldn't be a large factor. Drag is independent of mass, and while lifting the fuel to cruising altitude takes energy, most of the flight should ideally be cruising.
The rocket equation doesn't apply; that's for an entirely different regime.