When flying into a strong headwind on a long glide back to the airport, the recommended speed to use is the

When flying into a strong headwind on a long glide back to the airport, the recommended speed to use is the

• A. best lift/drag speed minus the full headwind
• B. best lift/drag speed
• C. best lift/drag speed plus half the windspeed
• D. best lift/drag speed plus the full windspeed

Answer: (C)

When gliding, the speed that gives the best glide ratio in still air is the best lift/drag speed. With a strong headwind, ground distance covered during the glide is reduced because the wind pushes against you. To maximize how far you get along the ground before you descend, you don’t just fly at the still-air best L/D speed; you offset the headwind by a small amount. The practical rule is to add about half of the headwind to the best L/D speed. This increases your airspeed enough to offset the wind’s effect on ground distance, without pushing you into excessive sink that would shorten the glide. So the recommended speed becomes the best lift/drag speed plus roughly half the windspeed. If there were no wind, you’d fly at the still-air best L/D speed; with a tailwind you’d subtract about half the tailwind from that speed.

When gliding, the speed that gives the best glide ratio in still air is the best lift/drag speed. With a strong headwind, ground distance covered during the glide is reduced because the wind pushes against you. To maximize how far you get along the ground before you descend, you don’t just fly at the still-air best L/D speed; you offset the headwind by a small amount. The practical rule is to add about half of the headwind to the best L/D speed. This increases your airspeed enough to offset the wind’s effect on ground distance, without pushing you into excessive sink that would shorten the glide. So the recommended speed becomes the best lift/drag speed plus roughly half the windspeed. If there were no wind, you’d fly at the still-air best L/D speed; with a tailwind you’d subtract about half the tailwind from that speed.