Pitch rate is the speed at which an object rotates around its lateral axis, notably seen in aircraft as the up-and-down movement of the nose. It quantifies the rate of change of pitch angle over time. Monitoring pitch rate is critical for maintaining aircraft stability and control during flight. It influences altitude, angle of attack, and aerodynamic performance. Pilots and engineers utilize pitch rate to manage the aircraft’s attitude and dynamics effectively. The formula to calculate pitch rate as follows:Â
Where:
- q is the pitch rate in rad/s,
- V is the velocity in m/s,
- R is the Radius of Turn in m.