Aero Chapter 05/06 (TS) and 05 (ADV & IUT), Thrust and Thrust Curve Review
T-45 Aerodynamics Student Workbook
Configuration
A configuration change will have a different effect on the thrust-required curve depending on the change.
If, for example, the configuration change is external stores that only add drag, the thrust-required curve
would shift upward indicating the requirement to overcome the additional drag (Figure 94).
6,000
Ta at Sea Level
5,000
4,000
Tr HIGHER DRAG
Tr LOW DRAG
3,000
2,000
1,000
(L /D )
MAX
0
0
100
300
400
500
600
200
TRUE AIRSPEED - KNOTS
Figure 94: CONFIGURATION CHANGE (DRAG) VS THRUST
With a change to approach configuration, the thrust-required curve would shift left and up (Figure 95).
The aircraft would fly at a much lower airspeed with the increase in CL provided by the flaps producing a
shift left in the Tr curve. However, the flaps and landing gear will increase drag significantly, requiring
additional thrust, causing a shift up. The net result is a shift up and left when transitioning to the approach
configuration.
6,000
Ta at Sea Level
5,000
APPROACH
CONFIGURATION
4,000
17 units
3,000
CLEAN
23 units
2,000
1,000
14 units
0
0
100
300
400
500
600
200
TRUE AIRSPEED - KNOTS
Figure 95: CONFIGURATION CHANGE (APPROACH) VS THRUST
(7-99) Original
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