The rate of climb in terms of excess power refers to the rate at which an aircraft can ascend vertically based on the excess power available after overcoming the forces acting against it, such as drag and gravity. The rate of climb () in terms of excess power () can be expressed by the following formula:
Where:
- is the rate of climb (in feet per minute or meters per second),
- is the excess power available to the aircraft (in horsepower or watts),
- is the weight of the aircraft (in pounds or kilograms).