Aircraft weight and balance are essential considerations for the safe and effective operation of any aircraft. The aircraft manufacturer establishes the basic weight and center of gravity (C of G) of each aircraft. However, these values can change during the aircraft’s service life as a result of modifications, repainting, replacement of major components, or structural … Read more
There are various methods for determining the loaded weight and CG of an aircraft. There is the computational method as well as methods that utilize graphs and tables provided by the aircraft manufacturer. Computational Method The following is an example of the computational method involving the application of basic math functions. Aircraft Allowances: … Read more
Balance refers to the location of the CG of an aircraft, and is important to stability and safety in flight. The CG is a point at which the aircraft would balance if it were suspended at that point. The primary concern in balancing an aircraft is the fore and aft location of the CG along … Read more
As discussed in earlier, 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 … Read more
It is vital to comply with weight and balance limits established for helicopters. Operating above the maximum weight limitation compromises the structural integrity of the helicopter and adversely affects performance. Balance is also critical because, on some fully loaded helicopters, center of gravity (CG) deviations as small as three inches can dramatically change a helicopter’s … Read more