Engine Loss: Which Airport do you Choose?

[Buster1]

Hi guys,

I've had an interesting convo over the past few days with a friend, about which airport to glide to after an engine failure. He posed some really smart questions to me, mostly related to wind effects.

Anyway, he permitted me to credit him and use some of his drawings on my latest article. If you'd like to know more about wind effects and glide ratios and general engine out glide type stuff, have a look at this link and learn some goodies. It's all free!

http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/youve-lost-the-engine-which-airport

Thanks again for the support!

Nate

[75_M20F]

Thank you!

[Raptor05121]

Good point. Every 30 seconds when I'm scanning for spots to land, I always keep in mind my relation to the wind. Kinda of like checking mirrors and knowing where cars are around you.  Pitch for best glide and turn for a tailwind (fields permitting).

Good article.

[Danb]

It appears you didn't take into consideration the direction he was headed, what effect would the 180 turn if you were going in the direction of the wind. Arguably he couldn't make either airport 

[jaylw314]

Generally, an engine-out 180 turn will take about 300-500 feet depending on technique, so if the plane was initially heading north, it would lose 600-800 feet.  That decreases range by about 1 mile if the glide ratio is 1.7 miles/1000 ft.  The downwind glide would add 1.7 miles of glide range, so it would be doable from 10,000 ft. 

[Buster1]

Thanks guys. Yep, jaylw is correct. You'll lose about 500 feet, clean, in a gliding 180. It's another great question DanB has in this hypothetical situation. You'll never make it to Airport A given the conditions and winds.

[Piloto]

Wind direction can change in a short distance or by altitude when in the vicinity of weather phenomena. If within gliding distance my preference would be for longest runway and FBO facilities, specially at night.

José

[Guest]

On August 13, 2017 at 6:26 PM, Buster1 said:

Hi guys,

I've had an interesting convo over the past few days with a friend, about which airport to glide to after an engine failure. He posed some really smart questions to me, mostly related to wind effects.

Anyway, he permitted me to credit him and use some of his drawings on my latest article. If you'd like to know more about wind effects and glide ratios and general engine out glide type stuff, have a look at this link and learn some goodies. It's all free!

http://engineout.weebly.com/articles/youve-lost-the-engine-which-airport

Thanks again for the support!

Nate

My copy arrived yesterday, will read it this weekend.

Clarence