In flight mechanics, the thrust required refers to the amount of forward force that must be generated by an aircraft’s propulsion system (usually engines or motors) to overcome the aerodynamic drag and maintain a steady level flight at a particular speed and altitude. The concept of thrust required is essential in understanding and analyzing aircraft performance and determining the capabilities of an aircraft.
- Tr: Thrust Required (force needed to overcome drag and maintain level flight).
- W: Weight of the aircraft (force due to gravity acting downward).
- CD: Coefficient of Drag. It is a dimensionless quantity representing the aerodynamic drag of the aircraft.
- CL: Coefficient of Lift. It is a dimensionless quantity representing the aerodynamic lift generated by the wings of the aircraft.