ANN's Daily Aero-Tips (09.14.06): Wing Loading | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.13.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.14.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.15.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-05.16.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.17.24

Thu, Sep 14, 2006

ANN's Daily Aero-Tips (09.14.06): Wing Loading

Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 09.14.06

Different airplanes handle differently. That should be pretty obvious, but why is this so? There are many factors that affect an airplane's handling -- one of them is wing loading.

Wing loading describes the amount of aircraft weight carried by the wing. It's usually calculated as the airplane's maximum takeoff weight divided by the wing area, and measured in pounds per square foot.

(Note: the units are arbitrary; it could just as easily be expressed in fanegas per hectare. Okay, maybe not as easily).

An airplane with a lower wing loading (more wing for the weight) can takeoff off in a shorter distance and outclimb a similar-weight airplane with less wing (higher wing loading). They can also carry more aircraft weight for the same engine power…more wing is pulled (or pushed) through the air by the engine, so more lift is generated to counter weight.

The downside is that lower wing-loading airplanes are more affected by turbulence. With less directional inertia (per unit of wing area) and more wing area on which a gust can act, the lightly-loaded wing will bounce around a lot more than an airplane with higher wing loading. It's not the only factor, but wing loading determines in large part how a particular airplane will ride in turbulent conditions.

In general, if you want a good ride you want higher wing loading, but if short-field performance and maneuverability are important to you, low wing loading is superior.

For comparison purposes let's look at the wing loading of a few personal aircraft, to gauge (at least initially) how they might takeoff, climb, turn and ride compared to others:

You can divide your airplane's maximum takeoff weight by the wing area to see how it stacks up.

Aero-tip of the day: Understand wing loading as a function of airplane performance and stability.

FMI: Aero-Tips

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.16.24): Instrument Runway

Instrument Runway A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight-in landing minimums has been>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.16.24)

Aero Linx: Alaska Airmen's Association The Alaska Airmen's Association includes over 2,000 members—we are one of the largest General Aviation communities in the country. We s>[...]

Airborne 05.15.24: Ghost Sq MidAir, B-2 Junked, Dream Chaser Readies

Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooki>[...]

Airborne 05.10.24: Icon Auction, Drunk MedEvac Pilot, Bell ALFA

Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.16.24: PRA Runway, Wag-Aero Sold, Young Eagles

Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh! The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC