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Aircraft Surface Drag

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Lendo

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2013
Messages
935
Location
Brisbane
To all, I have been struggling with L/D estimations/calculations. I came across a book by Steve Brandt which gives good guides to Surface Area calculations. To find Cdo his formula is Cdo-Cfe(Swet/S). He provides Cfe as 0.0055 (for Single Prop Light Aircraft), so all I really need is the Swet (Surface Area WET). I've done most of the aircraft and got to 416 sq.ft. (quite significant I thought) but it gave me a too high L/D value, so I need to add more stuff. However I didn't include the (fixed) landing gear yet and I was wondering about the Propeller Surface area, if that should be included (for straight and level flight). We know the prop has surface drag, I'm wondering if that should be included.

Anyone have a surface area for Tricycle landing gear and wheel covers - just off the top of your head or if you have it to hand.

BTW Cfe is a function of diverse factors, with enough similarity for a useful average.
TIA
George (down under)
 
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