The power required for stable flight refers to the amount of power that an aircraft’s propulsion system must generate to maintain a steady and level flight at a constant speed. It is the power needed to overcome the total drag force acting on the aircraft. For steady level flight, the lift force is equal to the weight of the aircraft (L = W), and the thrust force is equal to the total drag (T = D).Â
- P represents the power required for flight (in Watts or horsepower)
- T represents the thrust produced by the aircraft’s propulsion system (in Newtons, N)
- V∞ represents the airspeed or freestream velocity of the aircraft (in m/s)
- D represents the drag force experienced by the aircraft (in Newtons, N)