Table of Contents
What are the importance of weight and balance in aircraft?
Weight and Balance Form Proper distribution of weight plays a large and important role in an aircraft’s overall performance. Load your airplane improperly, and it will affect its fuel consumption, speed, rate of climb, controllability, ceiling, and even structural integrity.
How does improper weight and balance affect the airplane during flight?
Effects of Weight An overloaded aircraft may not be able to leave the ground, or if it does become airborne, it may exhibit unexpected and unusually poor flight characteristics. If not properly loaded, the initial indication of poor performance usually takes place during takeoff.
How does aircraft weight affect the glide performance?
Variations in aircraft weight do not affect the glide angle provided that the correct airspeed is flown. Since it is the lift over drag (L/D) ratio that determines the gliding range, weight will not affect it. The heavier the aircraft is, the higher the airspeed must be to obtain the same glide ratio.
How does changing the weight of a paper airplane affect its ability to fly?
The larger the paper airplane the more it will weigh, the more it weighs the more lift will be needed to keep it flying. Eventually weight will become greater than lift and the paper airplane will descend to the ground. In addition the larger the paper airplane the larger its wings can be.
How does rate of descent vary with weight?
A change in weight does not affect the descent angle. With an aeroplane flying at its best L/D ratio, an increase in weight will increase the FCW, increasing the speed down the slope, and therefore the rate of descent, but not the descent angle.
What are the effects of weight to the performance of the aircraft?
Effects of Weight on Flight Performance. The takeoff/climb and landing performance of an airplane are determined on the basis of its maximum allowable takeoff and landing weights. A heavier gross weight will result in a longer takeoff run and shallower climb, and a faster touchdown speed and longer landing roll.