To maintain maximum range during flight in a constant wind condition, a pilot should do what as fuel weight decreases?

To maintain maximum range during flight in a constant wind condition, a pilot should do what as fuel weight decreases?

• A. Increase power and indicated airspeed
• B. Maintain current power and speed
• C. Reduce power and indicated airspeed
• D. Change altitude for optimum performance

Answer: (C)

To achieve maximum range during flight under consistent wind conditions, a pilot should reduce power and indicated airspeed as fuel weight decreases. This practice aligns with the principle of maintaining an optimal lift-to-drag ratio, which is crucial for prolonging the aircraft's range. As the aircraft burns fuel, it becomes lighter, and a lower power setting can be used while still maintaining efficient performance. By reducing indicated airspeed, the pilot ensures that the aircraft operates closer to the best glide speed, which optimizes the lift-to-drag ratio. A higher lift-to-drag ratio means that the aircraft can cover more distance per unit of fuel consumed, effectively maximizing range. Maintaining current power and speed or increasing them can lead to increased drag and fuel consumption, which ultimately diminishes range. Changing altitude may improve performance based on different wind layers or atmospheric conditions, but it is not the most straightforward method for maximizing range as fuel weight decreases. The focus should be on optimizing power and airspeed for efficient fuel use to extend the flight distance.

To achieve maximum range during flight under consistent wind conditions, a pilot should reduce power and indicated airspeed as fuel weight decreases. This practice aligns with the principle of maintaining an optimal lift-to-drag ratio, which is crucial for prolonging the aircraft's range.

As the aircraft burns fuel, it becomes lighter, and a lower power setting can be used while still maintaining efficient performance. By reducing indicated airspeed, the pilot ensures that the aircraft operates closer to the best glide speed, which optimizes the lift-to-drag ratio. A higher lift-to-drag ratio means that the aircraft can cover more distance per unit of fuel consumed, effectively maximizing range.

Maintaining current power and speed or increasing them can lead to increased drag and fuel consumption, which ultimately diminishes range. Changing altitude may improve performance based on different wind layers or atmospheric conditions, but it is not the most straightforward method for maximizing range as fuel weight decreases. The focus should be on optimizing power and airspeed for efficient fuel use to extend the flight distance.