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Classic Theory Meets Digital Computer; Status Quo Emerges Unscathed

Flying Magazine

Operators of airplanes used for commercial transport of people or cargo prefer pound-miles per gallon, but for personal airplanes with randomly varying payloads mpg is a satisfactory yardstick for efficiency. Naval Academy, approached the problem by setting lift-drag ratio, L/D, as his metric of efficiency.

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What Is Air Density? A Simple Guide for Pilots

Pilot Institute

Key Takeaways Air density affects aircraft performance, including lift, engine power, and propeller effectiveness. These include lift, propeller thrust, and engine combustion. This increased density increases airflow over the wings, generating more lift. The opposite is true for low-pressure weather systems.