Does a headwind/tailwind affect your rate of climb?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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I am still confused whether a head wind or tailwind would affect the rate of climb. Since in a HW/TW condition our a/c is basically still climbing in the same parcel of air, it is just that parcel of air is moving with or against our course hence increasing/decreasing the horizontal distance covered to get to the target height. This means that the time needed to get to the target altitude is not affected at all, but the horizontal distance is.
Yet my friends have been insisting that with a headwind an aircraft would climb faster to the target height, as the headwind helps create more lift by increasing the amount of air passing through the wings.
aerodynamics flight-planning
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
asked Aug 16 at 8:20
Aget Aviano
1386
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
I am still confused whether a head wind or tailwind would affect the rate of climb. Since in a HW/TW condition our a/c is basically still climbing in the same parcel of air, it is just that parcel of air is moving with or against our course hence increasing/decreasing the horizontal distance covered to get to the target height. This means that the time needed to get to the target altitude is not affected at all, but the horizontal distance is.
Yet my friends have been insisting that with a headwind an aircraft would climb faster to the target height, as the headwind helps create more lift by increasing the amount of air passing through the wings.
aerodynamics flight-planning
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
asked Aug 16 at 8:20
Aget Aviano
1386
1
Consider the extreme case: What happens if you are climbing in a direct headwind where the horizontal component is equal to the ground speed at best climb?
– Michael Kjörling
Aug 16 at 8:49
3
A headwind or tailwind affects your angle of climb. In a headwind you cover less ground for the same gain in altitude, so you're climbing at a higher angle relative to the ground.
– Pete Becker
Aug 16 at 13:28
5
Possible duplicate of Does a headwind affect the climb gradient?
– Pondlife
Aug 16 at 13:36
1
This is not a duplicate of the linked question. That one is about the climb gradient, which is different from the rate of climb asked about here. The answers on the linked question explain why.
– Dan Hulme
Aug 16 at 15:31
1
Your friends may be assuming that you can somehow maintain constant ground speed. Perhaps you need to emphasise that isn't the case?
– Toby Speight
Aug 16 at 16:06
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
I am still confused whether a head wind or tailwind would affect the rate of climb. Since in a HW/TW condition our a/c is basically still climbing in the same parcel of air, it is just that parcel of air is moving with or against our course hence increasing/decreasing the horizontal distance covered to get to the target height. This means that the time needed to get to the target altitude is not affected at all, but the horizontal distance is.
Yet my friends have been insisting that with a headwind an aircraft would climb faster to the target height, as the headwind helps create more lift by increasing the amount of air passing through the wings.
aerodynamics flight-planning
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
asked Aug 16 at 8:20
Aget Aviano
1386
I am still confused whether a head wind or tailwind would affect the rate of climb. Since in a HW/TW condition our a/c is basically still climbing in the same parcel of air, it is just that parcel of air is moving with or against our course hence increasing/decreasing the horizontal distance covered to get to the target height. This means that the time needed to get to the target altitude is not affected at all, but the horizontal distance is.
Yet my friends have been insisting that with a headwind an aircraft would climb faster to the target height, as the headwind helps create more lift by increasing the amount of air passing through the wings.
aerodynamics flight-planning
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
asked Aug 16 at 8:20
Aget Aviano
1386
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
1357
asked Aug 16 at 8:20
Aget Aviano
1386
asked Aug 16 at 8:20
Aget Aviano
1386
asked Aug 16 at 8:20
Aget Aviano
1386
1386
1
Consider the extreme case: What happens if you are climbing in a direct headwind where the horizontal component is equal to the ground speed at best climb?
– Michael Kjörling
Aug 16 at 8:49
3
A headwind or tailwind affects your angle of climb. In a headwind you cover less ground for the same gain in altitude, so you're climbing at a higher angle relative to the ground.
– Pete Becker
Aug 16 at 13:28
5
Possible duplicate of Does a headwind affect the climb gradient?
– Pondlife
Aug 16 at 13:36
1
This is not a duplicate of the linked question. That one is about the climb gradient, which is different from the rate of climb asked about here. The answers on the linked question explain why.
– Dan Hulme
Aug 16 at 15:31
1
Your friends may be assuming that you can somehow maintain constant ground speed. Perhaps you need to emphasise that isn't the case?
– Toby Speight
Aug 16 at 16:06
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1
Consider the extreme case: What happens if you are climbing in a direct headwind where the horizontal component is equal to the ground speed at best climb?
– Michael Kjörling
Aug 16 at 8:49
3
A headwind or tailwind affects your angle of climb. In a headwind you cover less ground for the same gain in altitude, so you're climbing at a higher angle relative to the ground.
– Pete Becker
Aug 16 at 13:28
5
Possible duplicate of Does a headwind affect the climb gradient?
– Pondlife
Aug 16 at 13:36
1
This is not a duplicate of the linked question. That one is about the climb gradient, which is different from the rate of climb asked about here. The answers on the linked question explain why.
– Dan Hulme
Aug 16 at 15:31
1
Your friends may be assuming that you can somehow maintain constant ground speed. Perhaps you need to emphasise that isn't the case?
– Toby Speight
Aug 16 at 16:06
1
1
Consider the extreme case: What happens if you are climbing in a direct headwind where the horizontal component is equal to the ground speed at best climb?
– Michael Kjörling
Aug 16 at 8:49
Consider the extreme case: What happens if you are climbing in a direct headwind where the horizontal component is equal to the ground speed at best climb?
– Michael Kjörling
Aug 16 at 8:49
3
3
A headwind or tailwind affects your angle of climb. In a headwind you cover less ground for the same gain in altitude, so you're climbing at a higher angle relative to the ground.
– Pete Becker
Aug 16 at 13:28
A headwind or tailwind affects your angle of climb. In a headwind you cover less ground for the same gain in altitude, so you're climbing at a higher angle relative to the ground.
– Pete Becker
Aug 16 at 13:28
5
5
Possible duplicate of Does a headwind affect the climb gradient?
– Pondlife
Aug 16 at 13:36
Possible duplicate of Does a headwind affect the climb gradient?
– Pondlife
Aug 16 at 13:36
1
1
This is not a duplicate of the linked question. That one is about the climb gradient, which is different from the rate of climb asked about here. The answers on the linked question explain why.
– Dan Hulme
Aug 16 at 15:31
This is not a duplicate of the linked question. That one is about the climb gradient, which is different from the rate of climb asked about here. The answers on the linked question explain why.
– Dan Hulme
Aug 16 at 15:31
1
1
Your friends may be assuming that you can somehow maintain constant ground speed. Perhaps you need to emphasise that isn't the case?
– Toby Speight
Aug 16 at 16:06
Your friends may be assuming that you can somehow maintain constant ground speed. Perhaps you need to emphasise that isn't the case?
– Toby Speight
Aug 16 at 16:06
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
23
down vote
accepted
A steady (continuous) head wind (or tail wind) will not affect your climb rate, only your climb angle. It means you will reach a specific altitude in the same time interval, but your ground distance will be affected.
A head wind increase (as in a gust) will momentary increase your indicated airspeed, which you can trade for a (momentary) increase of climb rate. Similarly, a tail wind gust will temporarily decrease your indicated airspeed and you might have to pitch the nose down a little, to maintain airspeed and therefore reducing climb rate. These are only transitory effects, until the plane settles back to its original trim speed.
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
23
down vote
accepted
A steady (continuous) head wind (or tail wind) will not affect your climb rate, only your climb angle. It means you will reach a specific altitude in the same time interval, but your ground distance will be affected.
A head wind increase (as in a gust) will momentary increase your indicated airspeed, which you can trade for a (momentary) increase of climb rate. Similarly, a tail wind gust will temporarily decrease your indicated airspeed and you might have to pitch the nose down a little, to maintain airspeed and therefore reducing climb rate. These are only transitory effects, until the plane settles back to its original trim speed.
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
add a comment |Â
up vote
23
down vote
accepted
A steady (continuous) head wind (or tail wind) will not affect your climb rate, only your climb angle. It means you will reach a specific altitude in the same time interval, but your ground distance will be affected.
A head wind increase (as in a gust) will momentary increase your indicated airspeed, which you can trade for a (momentary) increase of climb rate. Similarly, a tail wind gust will temporarily decrease your indicated airspeed and you might have to pitch the nose down a little, to maintain airspeed and therefore reducing climb rate. These are only transitory effects, until the plane settles back to its original trim speed.
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
add a comment |Â
up vote
23
down vote
accepted
up vote
23
down vote
accepted
A steady (continuous) head wind (or tail wind) will not affect your climb rate, only your climb angle. It means you will reach a specific altitude in the same time interval, but your ground distance will be affected.
A head wind increase (as in a gust) will momentary increase your indicated airspeed, which you can trade for a (momentary) increase of climb rate. Similarly, a tail wind gust will temporarily decrease your indicated airspeed and you might have to pitch the nose down a little, to maintain airspeed and therefore reducing climb rate. These are only transitory effects, until the plane settles back to its original trim speed.
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
A steady (continuous) head wind (or tail wind) will not affect your climb rate, only your climb angle. It means you will reach a specific altitude in the same time interval, but your ground distance will be affected.
A head wind increase (as in a gust) will momentary increase your indicated airspeed, which you can trade for a (momentary) increase of climb rate. Similarly, a tail wind gust will temporarily decrease your indicated airspeed and you might have to pitch the nose down a little, to maintain airspeed and therefore reducing climb rate. These are only transitory effects, until the plane settles back to its original trim speed.
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
edited Aug 16 at 16:44
Toby Speight
1357
1357
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
answered Aug 16 at 9:05
Radu094
5,8091638
5,8091638
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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1
Consider the extreme case: What happens if you are climbing in a direct headwind where the horizontal component is equal to the ground speed at best climb?
– Michael Kjörling
Aug 16 at 8:49
3
A headwind or tailwind affects your angle of climb. In a headwind you cover less ground for the same gain in altitude, so you're climbing at a higher angle relative to the ground.
– Pete Becker
Aug 16 at 13:28
5
Possible duplicate of Does a headwind affect the climb gradient?
– Pondlife
Aug 16 at 13:36
1
This is not a duplicate of the linked question. That one is about the climb gradient, which is different from the rate of climb asked about here. The answers on the linked question explain why.
– Dan Hulme
Aug 16 at 15:31
1
Your friends may be assuming that you can somehow maintain constant ground speed. Perhaps you need to emphasise that isn't the case?
– Toby Speight
Aug 16 at 16:06