• Welcome aboard HomebuiltAirplanes.com, your destination for connecting with a thriving community of more than 10,000 active members, all passionate about home-built aviation. Dive into our comprehensive repository of knowledge, exchange technical insights, arrange get-togethers, and trade aircrafts/parts with like-minded enthusiasts. Unearth a wide-ranging collection of general and kit plane aviation subjects, enriched with engaging imagery, in-depth technical manuals, and rare archives.

    For a nominal fee of $99.99/year or $12.99/month, you can immerse yourself in this dynamic community and unparalleled treasure-trove of aviation knowledge.

    Embark on your journey now!

    Click Here to Become a Premium Member and Experience Homebuilt Airplanes to the Fullest!

Glide ratio check

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

kennyw

2nd and current "Caretaker" N994SP
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Messages
302
Location
Mount Vernon, WA
I programmed a 7:1 glide ratio in the ForeFlight profile for 4SP. Yesterday, I got a wild hair and decided to see how close I could get.

I figured at 5 miles out and 3,500' agl, I should be able to make the numbers with a couple hundred feet to spare. So, at the end of a 2 hour fun flight, on a beautiful day, with landings at a couple of small airstrips out away from the hustle and bustle, the obligatory series of loops and rolls over my favorite hay field, and the approach end of a 2,700' X 40' runway calling to me, I pulled the throttle back and slowed to 80mph. I actually had about 800' to spare, and had to slip a bit to lose the extra altitude. But, I managed to put it exactly on the numbers, no problem.

I figure without a windmilling prop, I wouldn't have any altitude to spare. But, at least I know that "glide distance" ring on Foreflight is somewhat accurate. And, the "wing-tip" rule-of-thumb is on the conservative side. But, not by a whole lot. So, there ya go!...

50676494238_541d5a75e7_z.jpg
 
I was told by a CFI that a good rule of thumb for maximum glide distance on a powered GA airplane was the point on the ground just visible at the wingtip (no wind condition of course).

so, if your prop stops suddenly, you should be looking for a place to land somewhere on the ground that is within your wing span.

Probably a good rule to follow.
 
Last edited:
I programmed a 7:1 glide ratio in the ForeFlight profile for 4SP. Yesterday, I got a wild hair and decided to see how close I could get.

I figured at 5 miles out and 3,500' agl, I should be able to make the numbers with a couple hundred feet to spare. So, at the end of a 2 hour fun flight, on a beautiful day, with landings at a couple of small airstrips out away from the hustle and bustle, the obligatory series of loops and rolls over my favorite hay field, and the approach end of a 2,700' X 40' runway calling to me, I pulled the throttle back and slowed to 80mph. I actually had about 800' to spare, and had to slip a bit to lose the extra altitude. But, I managed to put it exactly on the numbers, no problem.

I figure without a windmilling prop, I wouldn't have any altitude to spare. But, at least I know that "glide distance" ring on Foreflight is somewhat accurate. And, the "wing-tip" rule-of-thumb is on the conservative side. But, not by a whole lot. So, there ya go!...

50676494238_541d5a75e7_z.jpg
By the way you have a really good looking Sonerai.
 
Back
Top