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Jul 20, 2023 · Gross Landing Weight: The takeoff weight minus the fuel burned en route. Ramp Weight: The weight of the airplane loaded for flight before the engine start. Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW): The weight of the aircraft before the addition of fuel. Gross Takeoff Weight: The weight of the airplane just before brake release to begin the takeoff roll.
- How to Calculate Weight and Balance (Easily) - Pilot Institute
According to 14 CFR § 23.2620, the aircraft flight manual...
- How to Calculate Weight and Balance (Easily) - Pilot Institute
May 25, 2024 · According to 14 CFR § 23.2620, the aircraft flight manual (AFM) must include this data. The weight and balance data is the ‘W’ in the ARROW acronym for required documents for every flight. This Cessna 172S has a BEW of 1,700 lb and a moment of 70,972 lb-in. The maximum gross weight is 2,550 lbs.
Weight and balance have a direct effect on the stability and performance of the aircraft. If a plane is too heavy, it may never get off the ground. If it’s out of balance, it may be uncontrollable when it does take flight. Obviously, neither of these scenarios will produce a desired outcome. Maintaining proper weight and balance is an ...
- The Aircraft Center of Gravity (CG) and The Forces Acting on An Aircraft
- How The Cg Is Controlled During Takeoff, Cruise and Landing
- The Relationship Between The Cg and Fuel Burn
Center of Gravity
The Center of Gravity, or CG for short, is the point on an aircraft where all its weight is concentrated. It is important because all the other forces occurring on an aircraft act through this CG. So, the position of the CG determines the effect of these forces on an aircraft.
Forces acting on aircraft
When in level, unaccelerated flight, there are four main forces that act on an aircraft. These forces are the lift, weight, thrust, and drag. For an aircraft to remain in equilibrium, these forces must be in balance. The diagram below shows these forces labeled on an aircraft. The weight acts through the aircraft CG and the lift is generated by the wing. For explanation purposes, it can be considered as acting through the wing aerodynamic center (the point where the moment generated by lift f...
Takeoff
The location of the CG during takeoff must take into several factors. The nose gear adherence Thenose wheel of an aircraft is what steers it during the initial parts of the takeoff, where the rudder is not effective due to the lack of airflow. During this period, the nose wheel steering must be able to fully control the aircraft. The more load that is placed on the nose wheel, the more it sticks to the ground and the more effective it becomes. Hence, the CG must be at a location where there i...
Cruise
During the cruise portion of the flight, as mentioned and explained in detail in the earlier paragraphs, the aircraft is balanced with the help of the force generated by the horizontal stabilizer. Here, we are going to look in more detail at what happens when the CG moves. Imagine an aircraft flying straight and level, and a sudden gust causes it to pitch up. Previously, we saw that the lift acts behind the CG. So, when the gust generates an angle of attack on the wing, the lift force increas...
Landing
During landing, there are two main factors to consider. One is that on final approach to landing, the flaps are lowered. This usually generates a net pitch-down moment. This moment must be then countered by the horizontal stabilizer. As with takeoff, a forward CG increases the magnitude of the nose down pitch moment, which requires a higher downward lift from the horizontal stabilizer. As the stabilizer itself is a control surface with a limited amount of movement, a point may be reached wher...
In long-range aircraft, during cruise, the CG moves mainly due to fuel burn. This affects fuel consumption. When the CG is aft, the negative lift that is required to be generated by the horizontal tail decreases. The opposite is true for forward CG. The lift generates induced drag, and thus the more the drag, the more the fuel burn. So, during flig...
- Journalist
Apr 13, 2024 · The weight distribution directly affected the aircraft’s center of gravity and contributed to the aircraft’s instability. Another notable example is the Airbus A320, which experienced challenges due to uneven cargo loading during a routine flight.
Jul 28, 2022 · In aviation, a small aircraft is one that weighs 12,500 pounds or less. In the case of private jets, these are usually designed to hold up to six passengers and six units of luggage that weigh 50 pounds or less. This is to ensure that the private jet is as maneuverable as possible with the correct balance and weight limit.
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As discussed in Chapter 4, Aerodynamics of Flight, weight is the force with which gravity attracts a body toward the center of the Earth. It is a product of the mass of a body and the acceleration acting on the body. Weight is a major factor in aircraft construction and operation, and demands respect from all pilots.
