Does it translate at all? I assume it equals some measure of force, which, however, I cannot say.
Or, rather, I assume it's a multiplier. Something that scales in relation to airspeed, probably as some power or whatnot.
Anyone have a calculator of sorts?
@BagelPlane Unfortunate.
@Subsere It is arbitrary, but it's still constant value for comparison. This all hinges on the fact that drag points are assumed to be in newtons.
@BagelPlane At an arbitrary speed? Seems odd.
Some info about link between drag points and drag coefficient
Take a 1.5x1.5x1.5m cube in the designer. It has 2322 drag points. Coefficient of drag = 1.09 for a cube (NASA). Air density at sea level is 1.225 kg/m^3. With the assumption that drag points are in Newtons, use the drag force equation:
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Fd = (0.5)(p)(v^2)(Cd)(A)
2322 = (0.5)(1.225)(v^2)(1.09)(2.25), v = 39.3164 m/s
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Repeat this with a 0.5x0.5x0.5 m cube (258 drag points):
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258 = (0.5)(1.225)(v^2)(1.09)(0.25), v = 39.3164 m/s
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Velocity holds constant for both situations. I assume this is the velocity and air pressure that the drag points are calculated with. Therefore, drag points would be in units of Newtons.
I would assume newtons or kilonewtons given everything else is in SI units. However it's a fixed value, while drag force will change at speeds and attitude. Perhaps it is calculating drag force at a fixed speed and altitude for all aircraft, so that there is a common baseline of comparison across designs.
This would be good to know tbh
no
all I know is it's directly proportional to SLOWNESS
XD