The Glide - Vertical Plane strategy is a vertical plane strategy that models fixed or no power flight. This is useful for fixed throttle situations, such as engine out (unpowered cruise), or reduced throttle for other purposes (engine inhibited, fuel restraint). The aircraft executes initial climb or descent to reach target airspeed, and then adjusts vertical trajectory as needed to maintain airspeed given drag and available thrust. Unlike ballistic trajectories, glide accounts for lift and maintains load factor within user-specific limits in order to satisfy specified glide speed.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Hold Initial Airspeed | Select this check box to maintain the airspeed of the aircraft at the beginning of the procedure throughout the maneuver. |
| Airspeed | If the aircraft is not holding its initial airspeed, this field defines the airspeed that the aircraft will attempt to achieve and maintain during the maneuver. Select a reference from the drop-down menu - true airspeed (TAS True Airspeed: the speed that the aircraft is moving relative to the airmass that it is flying in.), calibrated airspeed (CAS Calibrated Airspeed: the speed reported by the airspeed indicator, corrected for position and instrument error.), equivalent airspeed (EAS Equivalent Airspeed: the airspeed at sea level (International Standard Atmosphere) at which the dynamic pressure is equal to the dynamic pressure at the aircraft's current true airspeed and altitude.), or Mach The ratio of the aircraft's speed and the speed of sound at the aircraft's altitude, with local atmospheric conditions. number. |
| Speed Mode |
Enables you to specify an immediate speed change or a speed change at altitude. The vehicle's airspeed will be above or below the specified airspeed when the vehicle is above or below the specified altitude. This is useful for hypersonic vehicles that change airspeed as a function of altitude. |
| Min G | The minimum load factor that the aircraft can withstand while maneuvering during the glide. |
| Max G | The maximum load factor that the aircraft can withstand while maneuvering during the glide. |
| Max Speed Limits |
This field controls the behavior of STK's Aviator capability if the aircraft violates the maximum airspeed during the maneuver. Select Constrain if Violated to force the aircraft to obey the limit and continue the maneuver (possibly violating physical laws), Stop if Violated to stop the maneuver at the maximum airspeed, Error if Violated to make the procedure invalid, or Ignore Limits to ignore the speed limits. |
| Powered Cruise |
Select the Powered Cruise mode for the glide maneuver. Options include:
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