Glide Speed for Endurance

Glide speed for endurance is the airspeed at which an unpowered aircraft (or engine-out aircraft) achieves the maximum time aloft — the airspeed that produces the minimum rate of descent. This is the best endurance glide speed.

Endurance vs. Range Glide

• Best glide (range): The airspeed at which the aircraft travels the greatest horizontal distance per unit of altitude lost — used to maximize glide range after engine failure
• Minimum sink (endurance): The airspeed at which the aircraft descends most slowly — used to maximize time aloft (e.g., when searching for a landing site or waiting for weather to clear)

Finding the Speeds

Best glide speed is usually published in the POH (often labelled V_G or best glide). Minimum sink speed is typically slower than best glide and may or may not be published. For most light aircraft, minimum sink occurs approximately 10–15% below best glide speed.

Related Terms

See also: Glide Speed for Range, Minimum Sink Speed.