Originally posted by Fighterpilot
...but does anyone out there know at which wing loading level does a certain size aircraft become a brick, unable to fly?
Just for grins, I did some math.
The wing loading of a brick is about 144 oz/sq ft.
(Brick loading 8 x 4 (x 3) inches weighing 2 pounds
32 sq inches/144= .222222 sq ft
2 pounds = 32 oz
32 oz / .222222 sq ft = 144.014 oz/sq ft.)
The wing loading of a maxed out, full scale Grumman F6F Hellcat
is about 820 oz/sq ft.
(Max Gross F6F Hellcat 13228lbs 43ft wingspan 258sq ft wing area. 13228lb x 16 oz/lb= 211648 oz / 258sq ft = 820 oz/sq ft)
In layman's terms, "wing loading" is a measure of the amount of force that each square foot of wing area must generate in order to overcome the force of gravity to allow that particular airplane to fly.
Stall speed is proportionate to wing loading.
A 102 inch wingspan AT6 with a 35 oz/sq ft wing loading
will stall at the same airspeed as a .60 size plane with the
same wing loading. Larger airplanes just appear to be
flying slower than smaller airplanes.
The beautiful 102 inch AT6 pictured above WILL fly
IF you get it going fast enough.
Then again, so will the brick.
Rooster