In aircraft, drag force is the resistance encountered by the moving aircraft as it interacts with the air. It acts in the opposite direction to the aircraft’s motion and is influenced by factors like its shape, speed, and surface characteristics. Managing and minimizing drag is essential in aviation for optimizing fuel efficiency, range, and overall aerodynamic performance during flight. The formula to calculate drag force as follows:
Where:
- D is the Drag Force in N,
- T is the Thrust in N.
- Pexcess is the Power Excess in watt.
- V is the velocity in m/s.