Computes the pivotal altitude - the altitude above the ground at which a
ground reference point appears to remain stationary on the wingtip during
a turn. This altitude is used for eights-on-pylons and other ground
reference maneuvers.
Pivotal altitude depends only on groundspeed and is independent of bank
angle or wind direction. It changes as groundspeed changes (e.g. with
headwind/tailwind components during the maneuver).
Formula: pivotal altitude = GS^2 / (11.3 * g), where GS is in knots
and g = 32.174 ft/s^2. Simplified: PA_ft = GS_kt^2 / 11.3.
The constant 11.3 arises from converting knots to ft/s and dividing by g:
(1 kt = 1.6878 ft/s), so (1.6878)^2 / 32.174 = 0.08852, and 1/0.08852 = 11.3.
Computes the pivotal altitude - the altitude above the ground at which a ground reference point appears to remain stationary on the wingtip during a turn. This altitude is used for eights-on-pylons and other ground reference maneuvers.
Pivotal altitude depends only on groundspeed and is independent of bank angle or wind direction. It changes as groundspeed changes (e.g. with headwind/tailwind components during the maneuver).
Formula: pivotal altitude = GS^2 / (11.3 * g), where GS is in knots and g = 32.174 ft/s^2. Simplified: PA_ft = GS_kt^2 / 11.3.
The constant 11.3 arises from converting knots to ft/s and dividing by g: (1 kt = 1.6878 ft/s), so (1.6878)^2 / 32.174 = 0.08852, and 1/0.08852 = 11.3.