Hey ya'll,

I keep hearing this term wing load? What does it mean, and how does it factor into us as new pilots. Is it the turning radius or am I WAY off. Thanks for the info. Just trying to learn, and catch all the lingo.[8D]

Noir

Wing loading is usually defined as model weight divided by wing area, usually in ounces/sq. feet. What the limits are depends on the size of the plane. A small half A type will not fly well if the wing loading exceed 10 ounces/sq. foot while a quarter scale size may be a real floater with a wing loading of up to 40 ounces/sq. foot.

Some what clear. So what does a plane with a high wingload mean. What are some examples of these planes, and how do they react with a high wingload. Are they more unstable???

Noir

If you have two identical airplanes and added two lbs of lead to one of them you just increased the wing loading on the leaded plane. Wing loading is how much weight is on the wing compared to how big the wing is.

If youcould fly both these identcial airplanes you would find that the leaded plane is more unstable and would definately stall quicker.
Hope this helps cant seem to get my thought on paper.

Noir what basicly happens is this. As the weight and wing loading goes up you have to go faster to create enough lift to fly. Thus your take off speed rises as does your landing speed. Highly loaded planes do not hande as well. They take longer to turn and so on. As several of the posters have mentioned as the size of the model increases. So does the ability to carry heavyer wing loadings. I hope this simplifies this for you.

Mark Shuman

Clear. So a new pilot should stay away from planes with high wing loads. Thanks

Noir

Wing loading is not an absolute. A lot depends on the airfoil and area.
A glider and trainer with the same wing span will fly different with the same wing loading.