Aircraft Performance Spreadsheet (xls)

[wells]

I made up a spreadsheet that allows one to input various physical parameters for an aircraft, including prop diameter, design speed and rpm, wing area, aspect ratio, power, weight, altitude etc...

It then spits out efficiency, thrust, induced drag, zero-lift drag, total drag, climb rate and glide ratio, prop diameter stalled, activity factor (how much thrust the remaining unstalled portion of the prop can make) for any number of speeds that you input (up to 17 rows).  There is a column that calculates the e-retention or acceleration based on a max rate turn (and corresponding G-load).  Where the value is zero, is the sustained turning speed.  If anyone wants to play with it, go here!  It's all in metric though, sorry!    

Aircraft Performance Spreadsheet

P.S.  This has nothing to do with how things are done in Aces High (I don't have a clue how they're done), although some things might be similar.  It's really just a primitive wind tunnel type utility, that's all.

Oh yeah, right click on the link above and then 'save as'

[This message has been edited by wells (edited 07-31-2000).]

[Ripsnort]

Thanks Wells, you've always been a great contributor to the online sim community since I've seen your name the last 5 or 6 years! <S>

[wells]

It hasn't quite been that long Rip, but thanks for the kind words!  <S>

I should probably provide more information about what the values represent.  If you click on the letter of the column, it's title appears in the name box. The column L was mislabelled as 'bank' and really had no purpose...hehe It has been deleted and updated on the server. Sorry for the inconvenience! Here's a list of what the columns are...

A = speed (meters/second) 1 m/s = 2.236 mph
B = efficiency
C = thrust (Newtons) 1N = 0.224 lbs
D = propwash velocity (m/s)
E = induced drag (N)
F = profile (zero-lift) drag (N)
G = total drag (sum of E and F)
H = climb rate (m/s)
I = glide ratio
J = acceleration in max level (no alt lost) turn (m/s/s)
K = corresponding G-load for max turn
L = inner prop diameter stalled
M = activity factor (how much thrust the unstalled portion of the propeller can make)

[wells]

I've just uploaded a bug fix to the efficiency calculation.  You will need to re-downlaod it for the latest.  Notice how much changing the prop max angle of attack affects climb rate!