The student should gain a working understanding of aircraft weight and balance, including methods for calculation and aircraft limits for flight, and apply it to various scenarios and configurations.

Topics

• definitions
• fundamentals
• tools & charts

Equipment

• model aircraft
• whiteboard and markers
• aircraft manuals

Instructor actions

Explain the theory and fundamentals of weight and balance in a guided discussion; have the student complete several example scenarios.

Student Actions

Read and complete homework assignment; participate in guided discussion and weight and balance activity.

Completion standards

Student can demonstrate the steps required for balancing an aircraft in a variety of situations.

Teaching outline

• definition of weight and balance
  • terms and their meanings
• basic balance theory
  • finding proper empty weight
  • finding cg location
  • maximum takeoff weight - reasons for use or avoidance
• effects of weight and cg location
  • safety: stability, control, performance
  • efficiency and performance
• problems and types - comfort with other methods
  • computation
  • graphical
  • tabular