Optimal control of cruise flight at constant altitude

Description

Cruise optimization at constant altitude is formulated as a singular optimal control problem. The cases of maximum range, minimum direct operating cost and minimum fuel with fixed arrival time are analyzed, providing a comprehensive analysis of optimum cruise at constant altitude. The case of unsteady cruise with variable aircraft mass has been considered. In all cases the singular controls and the optimal speed laws that lead to optimum cruise are obtained, and the corresponding optimal trajectories are analyzed.

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