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Climb: Fast, or steep. TW/HW

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Old 03-21-2026 | 08:59 AM
  #11  
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An advantage to climbing slower/getting up to cruise sooner is that you spend less time in the bumps. I never understood why some guys fly 320kts at 11,000ft right through cumulus. I CI = 0 until I'm at cruise.
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Old 03-21-2026 | 10:07 AM
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I think the theory is climb fast to get the advantage of the tailwind then fly slow to be in the tailwind longer. Let Mother Nature push you longer. Big headwind is climb into wind slower fly faster into headwind to be exposed to headwind for shorter time. Notice cost index is usually much higher when flying into strong headwind.

slow climb when you are in turbulence makes no sense to me. Climb faster to try to get out of it sooner.
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Old 03-21-2026 | 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Varks
I think the theory is climb fast to get the advantage of the tailwind then fly slow to be in the tailwind longer. Let Mother Nature push you longer. Big headwind is climb into wind slower fly faster into headwind to be exposed to headwind for shorter time. Notice cost index is usually much higher when flying into strong headwind.

slow climb when you are in turbulence makes no sense to me. Climb faster to try to get out of it sooner.
Slower climb airpseed=higher climb angle, so you would get out of it faster. That only considers a vertical exit of course.
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Old 03-21-2026 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Ed Force One
However, sometimes I'm really hungry and my overpriced airport food is cooling towards inedibility. But while that has nothing to do with the OP's question, it can mean hundreds of pounds of fuel.
Sometimes, my morning coffee kicks in at an inconvenient time and I need to move some things around. Meaning, want to get to altitude quickly, but before the cabin starts to get busy and can set up.
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Old 03-21-2026 | 04:23 PM
  #15  
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Go study for your Cathay interview and you shall know the answer.
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Old 03-21-2026 | 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Sliceback
The most efficient way to save gas is to descend slower. You're closer to L/D and start down sooner. The second most efficient time and fuel saver is climbing out faster. The less efficient time and fuel saver is cruising at a higher mach.
This is true but would absolutely gum up the arrivals unless everyone is doing it, and I would bet that would happen in 0% of all cases due to arrival speed requirements. .70/230 kt descents aren't happening in any hub lol. Heck I don't know if I could stomach it into a spoke city either, that is just painful.

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Old 03-21-2026 | 07:45 PM
  #17  
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With a strong headwind you want to fly a high airspeed to make the percentage of headwind component as small as possible.

With a big tailwind you want your air speed lower to have a larger relative effect of the tail wind.

Except if you have other priorities than saving fuel. I usually do
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Old 03-21-2026 | 08:07 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by Name User
This is true but would absolutely gum up the arrivals unless everyone is doing it, and I would bet that would happen in 0% of all cases due to arrival speed requirements. .70/230 kt descents aren't happening in any hub lol. Heck I don't know if I could stomach it into a spoke city either, that is just painful.

OO pilots would like a work.
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Old 03-22-2026 | 03:03 AM
  #19  
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Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators

Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators (2025): NAVWEPS 00-80T-80 (ASA FAA Handbook Series): U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, Hunt, Hugh Harrison: 9781619540170: Amazon.com: Books https://share.google/6Uw5pDtoHi12jW5Xj
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Old 03-22-2026 | 03:44 AM
  #20  
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I don't really care about trying to save fuel when we have to sit for 20 min 50' from the gate blocking the alley cause there aren't any rampers to park us.
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