Optimum Burning Program for Horizontal Flight

The problem of determining the optimum burning program for a jet-propelled missile in horizontal flight, which is required to attain either the maximum total range or the maximum velocity at a given range, is formulated as a problem in variational calculus. The result is found to give only a partial solution. On the basis of this result a complete solution is postulated and justified, and the whole compared with the results of a constant burning-rate program to show the advantages of the optimum burning program. Consideration is given to the questions of optimum size and configuration and optimum flight altitude.