A sailplane with a lift/drag ratio of 22:1 sinks approximately how many feet over 15 nautical miles?

Prepare for your Private Pilot Glider Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Ready yourself for the main exam!

Multiple Choice

A sailplane with a lift/drag ratio of 22:1 sinks approximately how many feet over 15 nautical miles?

Explanation:
Glide ratio shows how far you can travel forward for each unit of altitude you lose. With a lift/drag ratio of 22:1, the aircraft travels 22 units horizontally for every 1 unit it sinks. To find the altitude lost over a given distance, divide the horizontal distance by the glide ratio. Convert 15 nautical miles to feet: 15 × 6,076 ≈ 91,140 feet. Then 91,140 ÷ 22 ≈ 4,142 feet. So over 15 NM, the sailplane would descend about 4,100 feet.

Glide ratio shows how far you can travel forward for each unit of altitude you lose. With a lift/drag ratio of 22:1, the aircraft travels 22 units horizontally for every 1 unit it sinks. To find the altitude lost over a given distance, divide the horizontal distance by the glide ratio.

Convert 15 nautical miles to feet: 15 × 6,076 ≈ 91,140 feet. Then 91,140 ÷ 22 ≈ 4,142 feet. So over 15 NM, the sailplane would descend about 4,100 feet.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy