The power required for unsteady flight depends on the specific flight maneuver being performed, the changing flight conditions, and the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft. Unlike steady level flight, unsteady flight involves changes in velocity, acceleration, and orientation, which make the power required calculation more complex.
- Preq is the power required for unsteady flight (in Watts or horsepower).
- ρ is the air density (in kg/m³).
- V is the airspeed of the aircraft (in m/s).
- S is the wing reference area (in square meters, m²).
- CD0 is the zero-lift drag coefficient, representing the parasitic drag of the aircraft when there is no lift (dimensionless).
- W is the weight of the aircraft (in Newtons, N).
- e is the Oswald efficiency factor, which relates to the span efficiency and is typically a value between 0.8 and 1 (dimensionless).
- AR is the aspect ratio of the aircraft’s wings (dimensionless).