Rolling resistance in aircraft refers to the force opposing the motion of an aircraft’s wheels as it taxis, takes off, or lands on a runway. It is primarily caused by the friction between the aircraft’s tires and the runway surface. Reducing rolling resistance is essential for efficient ground operations, as it influences fuel consumption during taxiing and contributes to the overall takeoff and landing performance of the aircraft. The formula to calculate Rolling resistance as follows:
Where:
- W is the Aircraft Weight in N
- R is the Rolling Resistance (Force of friction) in N
- L is the lift force in N.