In flight mechanics, the “total drag coefficient,” often denoted as CD (C sub D), represents the combined aerodynamic drag experienced by an aircraft during flight. It is a crucial parameter used to quantify the overall resistance an aircraft encounters as it moves through the air. The total drag coefficient includes various components of drag, and it is typically expressed as a dimensionless number.
- CD: Total drag coefficient of the aircraft.
- CD0: Parasite drag coefficient, representing the aircraft’s zero-lift drag or the drag when the aircraft is not producing any lift. CD0 includes various forms of drag, such as form drag and skin friction drag.
- K: A constant related to the aircraft’s lift-induced drag characteristics, often referred to as the lift-induced drag factor.
- Cl: Lift coefficient, which quantifies the amount of lift produced by the aircraft’s wings.