Understanding Optimum Altitude | It Is Not Maximum Altitude

Optimum Altitude is not Maximum Altitude. Find out more in this video.

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#flightclub #optimumaltitude

[ozanyesiltas]

Excellent video as always. I just wanted to give a little bit of info about WHY the optimum altitude increases as the aircraft flies in case someone wants more detail like I did;

1) As we fly we burn fuel
2) As we burn fuel, our weight decreases. With that, so does our induced drag. This also decreases our total drag, and from the total drag - airspeed graph we can see that this decrease in induced drag would cause our curve to move towards bottom left.
3) With this movement we can see our Vmd speed also decreases, which was related to our best range speed. (Best range speed = 1.32*Vmd for jets)
4) So our best range speed has changed, we need to slow down for best range. As we slow down, our mach number becomes lower. Which was one of the limiting reasons we can't go higher, because of the compression drag.
5) So now we can go higher, where specific fuel consumption is lower without the drag penalty from the higher mach number earlier.
6) We climb to our new optimum altitude, where mach number again becomes limiting.
7) Go back to step 1

[CHOXONCHOXOFF]

What a simplest explaination. N amazing graphics. ✈✈👍👍

[Mike_Costello]

Keep it up ya'll. Good simple content that works.

[baxterb]

Nice voice and great explanation, always

[Echo_Lima]

great video ! is optimum or maximum altitude at 1.3g limit ?

[vaishacnambiar]

First??
In 6 hours why no one has commented

[yasserfarg]

Nice explain , could you please take a modern aircraft as example and show us how the optimum altitude calculated ?

[rubes]

I feel these videos have been made for the poor Aussie ATPL exam students 😂 The 727 flight planning one was an absolute bastard, never want to go through that again!