To achieve the maximum range over the ground with a headwind, a turbojet should fly at what speed?

To achieve the maximum range over the ground when flying with a headwind, a turbojet should fly at a speed that best balances the trade-off between lift and drag while effectively utilizing the available wind. The ideal speed in this scenario is typically expressed as a multiplier of the maximum endurance speed (VMD), which is the speed at which the aircraft can fly the longest distance for the least amount of fuel burned.

When flying with a headwind, achieving maximum range involves considering how wind affects ground speed. Flying at 1.32 times VMD allows the aircraft to compensate for the headwind while maintaining optimal fuel efficiency over distance. This speed enables the aircraft to leverage the incoming wind effectively, ensuring that it can still cover significant ground despite the headwind drag.

Specifically, this approach helps maintain a beneficial lift-to-drag ratio while ensuring that the speed is not so high that it increases fuel consumption disproportionately. The result is a calculated balance that maximizes the range over the ground, taking into account the resistance provided by the headwind.

In contrast, lower multipliers or higher multipliers may not provide the same efficiency or effective utilization of the headwind, thus leading to decreased overall range.