Question

Sink rate can be used to ____________

(a) determine the time a glider may remain in the air

(b) determine and estimate takeoff gross weight

(c) estimate only wing loading

(d) calculate weight to thrust ratio

I got this question in an interview for internship.

Question is from Flight Mechanics in division Performance and Flight Mechanics of Aircraft Design

Answer 1

Right answer is (a) determine the time a glider may remain in the air

To elaborate: The time a glider may remain in the air can be determined by using the sink rate. Sink rate is the product of aircraft velocity and sine of the glide angle. It is the vertical velocity.