Good question. Increasing humidity does decrease lift, and therefore SHOULD
decrease drag. How much? Difficult to quantify, but increasing humidity
moves the density altitude higher.
I believe the humidity (vapor, not liquid water) would decrease engine power
more than any improvement in drag, perhaps Dave D., or one of our other
experts would care to delve into that ...
Dale C.
Subject: air Density
Hi
I know air density has been discussed previously as it
pertains to making
horsepower. In most air density calculations I have seen,
humidity is
factored in as a reduction in air density, as it displaces
some air (and
therefore some oxygen).
I have been wondering how humidity affects air density in
terms of
resistance or drag on the exterior of a vehicle.
I know that temperature changes air density and it's
associated drag, but
given some constant temp, is it easier or more difficult to
pass thru dry
air or high humidity air?
I am hoping that some of you folks who have aviation
training and
experience can share with us how humidity affects the
lifting ability of
aircraft??
Dan Wright
It's amazing what you can do if you don't know it can't be
done.
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