On the Fuel Optimality of Cruise

Abstract

longitudinal stability in Fig. 2 will not change; however, lateral stability will be greatly affected. Figures 4-6 show the effect that the reaction wheel has on lateral stability. From Fig. 4 it is seen that as the wheel size increases, the cable length required for stability decreases. Similar results are obtained in Figs. 5 and 6 when the wheel speed or weight is increased. These plots show that the cable length can be decreased to almost any length such that lateral stability is no longer the controlling factor, but longitudinal stability is. While not completely satisfactory, the addition of the reaction wheel is seen to have a tremondous effect on lat-