BillJ

My Feedback: (19)

I have a large aerobatic Bipe with a wing loading of 30.72 oz
and a 3D wing loading of 8.34

Bipe is 2025 sq inches of wing .....Gassed up weighs just under 27 lbs.....

What will this wing loading figure tell me about the general flight
"feel" of this airplane..............

Rodney

Almost a floater. It should be quite tame and a good flyer as long as you have enough engine. I'd like at least a 70cc engine if it were mine.

Ollie

The Bipe will have a stall speed almost twice the stall speed of the 3D plane assuming similar airfoils. Therefore, the bipe will have to be flown faster. Therefore, the bipe will not be as affected by gusts and winds as the 3D.

That said, the "feel" of a plane doing vertical maneuvers is more about power loading than wingloading. If the weight per cubic inch of engine displacement are similar, the vertical performance will be similar.

BillJ

My Feedback: (19)

I guess for "feel" I was wondering if 27lbs was light for two 80" wings as opposed to a lead sled.....................

Rodney

I have found that wing volume loading is a much better criterea for judging flyability than wing loading. This was a suggestion put forth by a Mr. Francis Reynolds in the Model Builder magazine many moons ago. It is just (Weight of model in ounces) devided by (wing area in square feet raised to the 1.5 power). Any number under 8 or 9 should be a good flyer. A 7 or less is a real floater..

springcreek

My Feedback: (3)

What is 3D wing loading and how do you figure it? I am familiar with wing loading which is the wing area in sq. ft. divided by the weight of the airplane in oz. Generally speaking, under 25 oz. per sq. ft. equals a floater, 25 to 30 or so is average, 30 to 40 is more scale like such as warbirds, etc.

Ollie

Aerobats with very low power and wing loading are sometimes refered to as 3D models.

"I am familiar with wing loading which is the wing area in sq. ft. divided by the weight of the airplane in oz." I'm sure you meant weight divided by wing area.

While scale models may turn out heavy, to be able to fly at scale speeds most will require a much lighter wing loading than 40 ounces per square foot. In some scale competition, flying at scale speed is one of the objectives.

BillJ

My Feedback: (19)

Well guys....looks like I've got about 30.72 oz wing loading.....

How do you factor in the drag.........................So I guess I'm about average..........

I hope thats average on landing distance too

BillJ

My Feedback: (19)

And the wing VOlume loading is 8.34


I got the formula off the IMAC page

Ollie

Unless you are going for fuel economy, endurance or speed; plenty of thrust will eliminate any issues associated with drag.