In steady level flight, the rate of climb of an aircraft is zero, which means the aircraft is not ascending or descending but maintaining a constant altitude. This occurs when the lift force produced by the aircraft’s wings is equal to the weight of the aircraft and the thrust is equal to the drag.
ROC=(T-D) V/W
- ROC is the rate of climb (in meters per second or feet per minute).
- ‘T’ is the total thrust produced by the aircraft’s engines (in newtons or pounds-force).
- ‘D’ is the total drag acting on the aircraft (in newtons or pounds-force).
- ‘V’ is the true airspeed of the aircraft (in meters per second or feet per minute).
- ‘W’ is the weight of the aircraft (in newtons or pounds-force).