Lift-to-drag Ratio - Examples

Examples

The following table includes some representative L/D ratios.

Flight article Scenario L/D ratio
Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer Cruise 37
Lockheed U-2 Cruise ~28
Rutan Voyager Cruise 27
Albatross 20
Boeing 747 Cruise 17
Common Tern 12
Herring gull 10
Concorde M2 Cruise 7.14
Cessna 150 Cruise 7
Helicopter 100 kts speed 4.5
Concorde Approach 4.35
House Sparrow 4


In gliding flight, the L/D ratios are equal to the glide ratio (when flown at constant speed).

Flight article Scenario L/D ratio / Glide ratio
Modern Sailplane gliding 45-70 (depending on span)
Hang glider 15
Gimli glider Boeing 767-200 with fuel exhaustion ~12
Paraglider high performance model 11
Powered parachute Rectangular/elliptical parachute 3.6/5.6
Space Shuttle Approach 4.5
Wingsuit Gliding 2.5
Northern flying squirrel Gliding 1.98
Space Shuttle Hypersonic 1
Apollo CM Reentry 0.368


Read more about this topic:  Lift-to-drag Ratio

Famous quotes containing the word examples:

    “No rules exist, and examples are simply life-savers answering the appeals of rules making vain attempts to exist.”
    —André Breton (1896–1966)

    “There are many examples of women that have excelled in learning, and even in war, but this is no reason we should bring ‘em all up to Latin and Greek or else military discipline, instead of needle-work and housewifry.”
    —Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733)

    “Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.”
    —Alexander Pope (1688–1744)