what is wing loading?
08-10-2006 | 11:24 PM
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RE: what is wing loading?
It is the amount of weight, per sq.ft. that the wing has to lift. The ideal wingloading goes up as the size of the plane goes up (it has to do with what's called reynold's numbers). For example, a light wingloading for a typical foamy is usually 4-6 ounces/sq.ft, while a light wingloading for a 35% aerobatic ship is around 30-32 ounces/sq.ft. As the wingloading goes up for a given size plane, the plane will have to fly faster and/or at a higher angle of attack, it's stall speed will be higher, it will give you less warning before it snaps out, and will be more likely to snap out in a high-speed stall.
To find the wingloading, divide the wing's total area by 144 to get the total sq.ft and record it. Then take the weight and convert it to ounces by dividing it by 16 if it is not already figured in ounces. Then take that figure and divide it by the sq.ft figure you recorded and you have your wingloading.
To find the wingloading, divide the wing's total area by 144 to get the total sq.ft and record it. Then take the weight and convert it to ounces by dividing it by 16 if it is not already figured in ounces. Then take that figure and divide it by the sq.ft figure you recorded and you have your wingloading.
08-10-2006 | 11:28 PM
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RE: what is wing loading?
In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. It is broadly reflective of the aircraft's lift-to-mass ratio, which affects its rate of climb, load-carrying ability, and turn performance.
Typical wing loadings range from 20 lb/ft² (100 kg/m²) for general aviation aircraft, to 80 to 120 lb/ft² (390 to 585 kg/m²) for high-speed designs like modern fighter aircraft.
Wings generate lift owing to the motion of air over the wing surface. Larger wings move more air, so an aircraft with a large wing area relative to its mass (i.e., low wing loading) will have more lift at any given speed. Therefore, an aircraft with lower wing loading will be able to take off and land at a lower speed (or be able to take off with a greater load). It will also tend to have a superior rate of climb because less additional forward speed is necessary to generate the additional lift to increase altitude. It may also be capable of more efficient cruising performance because less thrust is required to maintain the lift for sustained flight.
Typical wing loadings range from 20 lb/ft² (100 kg/m²) for general aviation aircraft, to 80 to 120 lb/ft² (390 to 585 kg/m²) for high-speed designs like modern fighter aircraft.
Wings generate lift owing to the motion of air over the wing surface. Larger wings move more air, so an aircraft with a large wing area relative to its mass (i.e., low wing loading) will have more lift at any given speed. Therefore, an aircraft with lower wing loading will be able to take off and land at a lower speed (or be able to take off with a greater load). It will also tend to have a superior rate of climb because less additional forward speed is necessary to generate the additional lift to increase altitude. It may also be capable of more efficient cruising performance because less thrust is required to maintain the lift for sustained flight.
