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2 Answers

IFR Climb

Asked by: 3522 views Aerodynamics, Instrument Rating

Vy (best rate of climb) will provide the greatest feet per minute per the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook. When calculating a climb rate from feet per NM and converting to feet per minute, should you use Vy for your airplane type for the calculation? I am assuming the answer is "yes" since Vy provides the greatest feet per minute.  

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2 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Jul 03, 2013

    Think for a moment – what do you do when you do a normal take off from the airport? Don’t you climb out at about Vy and, once at a safe altitude, lower the nose a bit and change to a higher speed climb until reaching your desired cruising altitude?

    You should use whatever climb speed you are going to actually use when calculating climb rate. If time to climb is an issue, you’d probably use Vy; if getting over obstacles (like a mountain) is an issue, you might use Vx. If neither is an issue you might use that higher “en route climb” speed.

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  2. Dan Chitty on Jul 03, 2013

    Thank you Mark for the clarity. Much appreciated.

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