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I raised a question to the club members a few weeks ago "at 500 feet AGL your engine fails, how long till your on the ground?"I didn't know the answer to the question when I raised it, but it did generate some very good discussion and some further questions. How many feet per minute do you loose in an established glide?So on Sunday morning I was off flying to get some real answers.In Glide: 1050 feet per minute at 45 knotsThis is approx glide ratio or 4.3:1 at a glide angle of 13 degrees.Engine out at 500 feet, 180 degree turn and land, 18 seconds to touch down.Interesting, as the glide angle feels much greater!Any thoughtsRegardsRoss B
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If you add 5knts to your normal descent speed you will actually get a better glide ratio and travel a little further. Ken
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Ross,Which machine is this with?Your glowing new super subaru powered machine, or the rotax light weight?What are the details for blade chord x length and rotor diameter vs weight?Cheers,Nick.
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The glide ratio is inversely proportional to the disk loading. The higher the loading, the lower the ratio. Most gyros have a glide ratio between 4-5:1 at best glide speed, which means if the engine quits you landing NOW
The best glide speed varies from one design to another, with lighter machines usually having a lower best glide speed than heavier machines. The AAI modified RAFs I trained in had a best glide speed of 65 mph.
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Good question Ross,My GPS has a 'glide ratio' field - last week from 2000' into a 10-12 knot wind it was a disturbing 2:1 all the way down at 40kts until flaring out. [:0] This is with the prop stopped ...as if the crankshaft had broken rather than an engine idle situation. Oh and a nice dirty open frame gyro - not one of those slippery things with a pod. Dave
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