NASA Logo - Web Link to NASA.gov Vertical Line

+ Text Only Site
+ Non-Flash Version
+ Contact Glenn

Go
ABOUT NASA NEWS AND EVENTS MULTIMEDIA MISSIONS MyNASA WORK FOR NASA

Airspeed Activity

If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems.


Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics is a "textbook" of information prepared at NASA Glenn Research Center to help you better understand how airplanes work. Click Beginner's Guide Index to access the list of slides. Open the slide called Relative Velocities (with text) and read the explanation on how relative velocities are used to calculate airspeed required for aircraft launch.


Aircraft carrier
Flight Crew
Aircraft carrier with battle ships

In airport takeoff situations, the ground speed of the aircraft and the wind speed are the only factors in airspeed. The U.S. Navy has an additional variable. Its airports (aircraft carriers) move on the ocean at speeds that can be in excess of 35 mph. Airspeed in this unique situation is a sum of the ship's speed through the water, wind speed, and the speed of the aircraft over the deck of the ship provided by the ship's catapult.

A catapult is like a huge rubber band and is used to propel an aircraft to higher speeds over a short distance in a few seconds. For more information on aircraft carriers and catapults, click on Aircraft Carriers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_catapult).

Assume that a typical catapult can propel an aircraft from 0 to 150 mph in 2 seconds. The aircraft carrier problem is pictured graphically in the following illustration. (Note the airspeed equation at the bottom.)


Click on image for detailed description

 


You are the Captain of the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Assume that the required airspeed for takeoff of an F-14 is 170 mph. Using the airspeed equation and information provided, complete the following table and answer the questions that follow. Assume that a positive wind velocity is in the direction of travel of the ship.

 
Catapult Speed (Vc) mph
Ship Speed
(Vs) mph
Wind Speed
(Vw) mph
Airspeed
Go/No Go
(>170 mph)
150
20
-10
 

 

 

 

 

150
20
10
 

 

 

 

 

 

150
30
-30
 

 

 

 

 

 

150
0
20
 

 

 

 

 

 

Airspeed = Ship Speed (Vs) + Catapult Speed (Vc) - Wind Speed (Vw)

Questions 

  1. With no wind, what should the speed of the ship be to launch an F-14?

    Vs = ____________________

     

  2. On launch any aviator wants to maximize lift. What would you do as Captain of the ship any time you launch aircraft?

     

  3. Are wind direction and ship speed factors in landing as well?

     

  4. Convert the completed table above to metric units (to the nearest kph). 
Catapult Speed (Vc) mph
Ship Speed
(Vs) mph
Wind Speed
(Vw) mph
Airspeed
Go/No Go
(>274 km/h)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Related Pages:
Standards
Worksheet
Lesson Index
Aerodynamics Index

 

     First Gov Image


+ Inspector General Hotline
+ Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act
+ Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports
+ Freedom of Information Act
+ The President's Management Agenda
+ NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer,
and Accessibility Certification

 

NASA Logo   
Editor: Tom Benson
NASA Official: Tom Benson
Last Updated: Thu, May 13 02:38:26 PM EDT 2021

+ Contact Glenn