Optimizing the airplane for best cruising altitude and velocity In the conceptual phase of the design, I am optimizing various entities of an airplane for the best cruising altitude and speed to reduce the cost, which also includes MTOW and fuel weight. Consider a scenario where airplane is undertaking a mission which will burn the entire mission fuel estimated. Now, in-flight it is very much likely that airplane is not able to fly at the best cruising altitude and/or speed. This will result in increase of fuel burn which might not be enough. How to tackle this problem of estimating fuel load for off-design conditions while optimizing the airplane?
One way to address this issue is to rely on the reserve fuel estimated for reserve mission such as loiter time. But, it might happen that airplane has to rely on the reserve fuel and due to increase in fuel burn during cruise, reserve fuel is less for loiter time. I don't think this is a desirable condition. Another way is to optimize the airplane for worst scenario. Now, the question arises what is that worst scenario. Is it flying at the cruise ceiling (cruising altitude and cruise ceiling are different) or something else?
Let me know how to address this problem. Thanks in advance!
Are you designing a new airplane? If I understand the question correctly, For a normally aspirated engine, the engine is most efficient when the throttle is fully open at a particular altitude, where it produces approximately 65% -75% power. Therefore the airframe with respect to wing design, angle of incidence etc should be matched to give the best lift/drag ratio at that altitude. You will have to consult with the engine manufacturer to establish what that altitude is. Your choice of propeller is also going to have to be factored.
Then you calculate the fuel reserves accordingly.
Fuel reserves are calculated according to legal requirements of the country in which the airplane is registered and also in which it is operating. This varies according to the type of aircraft and the operation. For instance the minimum legal reserves are different for a passenger jet on a commercial flight, to a single engine airplane being operated on a VFR flight in the private category. Most countries laws are similar but there might be small variations, and they all have to satisfy ICAO standards if the country is an ICAO member state.