On Oct 2, 10:01*am, Robert Moore wrote:
"Darkwing" theducksmail"AT"yahoo.com wrote

How does rated thrust for a jet engine translate to actual power? I
guess my question is, for example, a Cessna Mustang has two engines
that produce 1,460 lbs of thrust each (x 2) so the total is 2920 lbs
of thrust for the two engines. The takeoff weight for the Mustang is
listed as 8,645 lbs. so the engines are only putting out a 1/4 of the
total aircrafts weights. So do they rate thrust different to the
actual weight that the engines can fly? Is the reason that is does
only produce 2920 lbs. of thrust but the wing is what actually makes
the plane fly so the thrust doesn't need to equal weight?

Think about a Glider.......:-)

Bob Moore

To figure out how much thrust is required to keep the airplane in
level flight, divide the weight of the aircraft by the L/D Ratio of
the airplane. For Example my glider weighs 700 lbs and has a L/D ratio
of 38:1 at 50 kts. So at 50 knots it takes 700/38= 18.4 lbs of thrust
to maintain level flight. Since this is the best L/D it will take more
thrust to fly both slower or faster than 50 kts.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL