How much does she take?

[Guest burbles1]

Not wanting to drag down the tone of the forum (and maybe I should be on pprune for this), I am amazed at how many don't know the basic specs of their aircraft. With the simple question "What's the MTOW?" I have had responses like "Oh, you've got me there". And this from flying school instructors.

 

I've left or not bothered with schools because of this issue, and it's difficult to find others who know their aircraft specs well enough so I can make a decision to restart training with them.

 

If FTFs don't know this info, how can a student make the right decision? Or even do proper flight planning? And ignorance of basic laws is something that FTFs should not be instilling in their students (something about airmanship, I believe) - don't overload aircraft, and know what the weight and balance specs are so you don't fly outside an aircraft's envelope. Should FTFs do an audit of their machines and have this info on hand so they portray more credibility?

 

 

[Tracktop]

aren't there plaques / info on the ac telling you this? in view of the pilot

 

 

[farri]

Should FTFs do an audit of their machines and have this info on hand so they portray more credibility?

The simple answer.........Of course the should.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

 

 

[motzartmerv]

Hi Burb's. Gee, I hope thats not a dig. When planning our last Nav, i worked out we could carry 2.9 hours worth of fuel. Not including a reserve. If this figure was different to the one you came up with then perhaps using the acft's flight manual with "actual" weights and not Generic weights found on a website would explain the difference and would be a crucial point of airmanship.

 

cheers

 

 

[Guest burbles1]

Merv,

 

That's not a dig, mate. Lookin' forward to getting back there ASAP. Just my experiences with others, way back in the past.

 

 

[motzartmerv]

good stuff...and yes, it is a pet hate of mine, ive even seen CFI's that dont know how to do a weight and balance.. actually, on my first day instructing with a particular club, i saw the club pressident, and the cfi pile into a gazelle, and go flying..i did a weight and balance and found they were 48 kilos over weight...gggrrrrr

 

 

[pudestcon]

How do you do a 'weight and balance' Motz?

 

Pud

 

 

[poteroo]

The knowledge deficiency that I meet most frequently in both GA, and RAAus, BFR's is in regards to Va, and why the aircraft should be slowed to that speed in rough air. It usually arises as the reviewee flogs down the descent sector at or above Vno.

 

happy days,

 

 

[storchy neil]

when i was contacted about the crosshire off my aircraft the cfi at the field asked me did i have or could i copy the flight manual for the air craft as he wanted the students to have the knowlage off that flight manual

 

as his cocern was that to many pilots did not have any idea as to mtow vso vne for various aircraft or glide ratio rotation speed aproch speed and its all in it

 

read the flight maual of the air craft that you are learning in you may get a big surprise

 

but dont go flying with out it as it must bein the aircraft when in flight neil

 

 

[farri]

I`ll throw the cat among the pigeons here.

 

Every instructor must know, all the correct figures for the AC they fly,even so,for MTOW,how many would bother to ask for their passenger/students weight or actually weigh them before flying.

 

I don`t know :ne_nau: ,maybe they all do.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

It's a bit hard to overload a Lightwing but it is possible with anything I suppose. If I do think I going to be close, the MTOW is on the placard on the dash. I do a lot of heavy take-offs with my tool box etc., so you do get a feel for it. When I have thought I am close and pull out the scales, I usually find I've still got 10-15 Kg to play with...............................................................................Maj...

 

 

[Tomo]

Love it C, Here is the J120 I use.

 

An exercise for all pilots reading this forum...Put the empty weight of your a/c# ------ (283kg)

 

Put the weight of the tiedown/sparetyre/toolbag ----- (5kg)

 

Your weight ----- (65kg)

 

A 95kg passenger ----- (95kg)

 

2 hours of fuel (2x "X" l/hr)x0.72 ------ (21.5kg)

 

Add it all together ------ (469.5kg)

 

Write the MTOW ------ (500)

 

Answer the question "are you operating legally??" ----- Yes :big_grin:

 

# if you dont know the empty weight, you are a test pilot!!

[flying dog]

If anyone is interested:

 

Pilot Tools - Downloads - Forums

 

 

[Tomo]

Well done you skinny bugger , wish we were all 65Kg don't we CFI Now how do you check balance in the Jab Tomo?

 

David

Well, you wouldn't believe it... but I stuffed up my weight big time... I'm actually 56kgs....................... but I'll leave it 65kg, as It will still be within limits!

 

The Jab has a weight/balance graph in the POH. Works well. But as with most RAA aircraft, there isn't to much 'arm' there, but you certainly have to watch what you do still, as some poor souls have discovered, you can certainly put the CofG to far back!! (they tip up on their tail)

 

 

[flying dog]

Tommo,

 

Lucky you.

 

I am 50 on a good day. I work at 45, but don't own any scales.

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

I am a professional pilot and do not know the maximum fuel uplift of my aircraft, other than that it is somewhere North of 3200 pounds, perhaps 3248 rings a bell! The reason being is the maximum that I can put on is 2760 pounds to still have some useful load!

 

I do however know the MTOW, MLW, MZFW, VMO/MMO, VMCA, VYSE, VLO, Vs, MCP, SHP and too many other things to write down!

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

I'm actually 56kgs...............

How much ballast do you carry in the Drifter?

 

 

[Tomo]

How much ballast do you carry in the Drifter?

Fortunately the one I learnt in - mostly fly - Is modified to suit light-ish people. (has weight in the front) So it's fine. But some of the others... It's unbelievable the amount I gotta try and scoop together. Seems counter productive don't it! Well I guess that's exactly what it is anyway...

 

 

[facthunter]

Tandem pusher.

 

When payload is a long way from the CofG, it's weight/ mass becomes very critical. In this case the pilot is the payload. With a pusher the considerable engine weight has to be counterbalanced by the pilot in the front seat. Nev

 

 

[numptie]

Thanks David - and, as they used to say on Laugh-in, verrry interesting. The RNAC mob are very well organised and require full, documented W&B with each hire.

I think the way RNAC does it is very good. Having to do the W&B on the flight card is a good reminder. Otherwise, I think a lot of people just think "she'll be right, I'm sure we won't be overweight".

 

Bob