hank01

I hope everyone will forgive this totally noob question but what is meant by "flying weight"? Here is some data from an ARF ad for example:

Specs

* Wing Span:66 in
* Overall Length:55 in
* Wing Area:913 sq in (927 in w/ quad flap)
* Flying Weight:6-7 lb
* Engine Size:.60 - .91 (2-stroke), .82 - 1.00 (4-stroke)
* Radio:4-7 channels
* Servos:5-7
* Trim Scheme Colors:HANU952 Transparent Yellow, HANU866 True Red, HANU873 Deep Blue

Is this the weight of the covered airframe sans power plant and radio gear or does it include everything as in flight ready with fuel, batteries etc? A search for the term here turned up zilch as did Google. What does "flying weight" mean?

downunder

It's what it weighs with a full tank of fuel and ready to fly.

Missileman

And it varies because they can't predict how heavy or light you will assemble it (how much epoxy or beef ups ect..) or what engine and electronics you will use.

RCVFR

My Feedback: (7)

Usually, the weight given for aircraft is "dry" weight, without fuel. Flying weight would include fuel. The advent of electric planes has made this more of a fuzzy area, as the battery doesn't change weight during flight as a fueled plane does, as the fuel burns off during the flight.

sheograth

But of course flying weight also must include all batteries that are to be used.

hogflyer

It also provides an allowance for the variance of the different weights of balsa/plywood used in the fabrication of the plane. If you put two identical planes side by side, one will could weight 1/2 pound more, or less, than the other. The easy way around this is to just give a general weight range.

Hogflyer

hank01

Thanks one and all. Seems to be the simple things that confuse me the most- and the quickest. [:@] Why is that?!!