Energy state revisited

Abstract

Kaiser (1944) has introduced the concept of 'resultant height' in connection with aircraft minimum-time climbs. Its use as a state variable in trajectory work is attractive because it is a 'slower' variable than either altitude or velocity. Kelley (1972, 1973) has made an attempt to synthesize 'slow' state variables in connection with singular-perturbation procedures. In the present investigation, attempts are made to synthesize both 'fast' and 'slow' variables for the minimum-time-to-climb problem along lines explored by Kelley. Attention is given to climb equations, energy-modeling simplifications, 'slow'-variable choice, 'fast'-variable-choice considerations, a singular-perturbation analysis, the choice of a 'fast' variable, and the climb-dash problem.