Need help with W+B formulas.

[captainphil]

We started a more advanced part of weight and balance today at tech and I need two things I missed, how do you find the payload and the ballast, thank you for your help.

[KBUF]

Payload is the weight of the passengers, baggage and cargo.

Just add this up. On a typical instruction flight, it is you, your instructor and your flight bags. This is different than useful load...know this. Useful load is payload+useable fuel.

Ballast is just wieght you add to the airplane, usually for GA it is to get the CG in range-i.e. you have a heavy passenger that puts the CG too far foward, so then you put the ballast in the cargo compartment (somewhere behind the CG). It is usually sandbags.

[captainphil]

Originally Posted by KBUF

Payload is the weight of the passengers, baggage and cargo.

Just add this up. On a typical instruction flight, it is you, your instructor and your flight bags. This is different than useful load...know this. Useful load is payload+useable fuel.

Ballast is just wieght you add to the airplane, usually for GA it is to get the CG in range-i.e. you have a heavy passenger that puts the CG too far foward, so then you put the ballast in the cargo compartment (somewhere behind the CG). It is usually sandbags.

ok so that doesnt include fuel or oil, so lets say you have a passenger weighing @170lbs your cargo is @ 190lbs and your pilot/copilot together are @318lbs , your total payload would be 678 lbs?

[KBUF]

Yup,

the oil, unusable fuel, other fluids (hydraullic etc.), standard airplane, optional equipment add up to give you basic empty weight.

[captainphil]

Thank you so much!!

[captainphil]

Holdon one more question,lol , yes I know I can be a handful .Don't you get useful load from taking the total empty weight and subtracting it from the max gross weight?

[KBUF]

Yes, that is correct.

Just one thing though...as a student pilot, you probably ask a lot of questions to your instructor and here, which is a great thing...you are not a handfull! However, it is good, especially for when you go and take your oral tests, to know where to look things up in case you don't know the answer to a question. Always research if practical before asking. Also, if you find the answer, but don't understand it 100 percent, never hesitate to ask questions. Good luck in your training!!

[captainphil]

Yes, I will not hesitate, thank you for wishing me luck KBUF.My teacher is teaching us mostly stuff that he said is college material because he wants to get us ready faster , that's why I always sound like im rushing, but a good pilot should take his time.However, when our class takes notes he just reads them aloud and wants us to write them down. Sometimes he goes faster than all of us can write which is what makjes things confusing because I can't always interupt him and when we always ask he gets sorta irritated. But I like the guy alot becaus eanyone interested in aviation is a friend o' mine .

[Stone Cold]

Remember, you're the customer, paying lots of money for this instruction. Let him get irritated...you need this info. As far as I know, this is NOT college material. I taught that kind of stuff to my PVT studs.

Good luck and keep in the books. You might want to look in the W&B part of the POH (Chapter 6) for more info on this subject.

TX

[captainphil]

Originally Posted by txpilot

Remember, you're the customer, paying lots of money for this instruction. Let him get irritated...you need this info. As far as I know, this is NOT college material. I taught that kind of stuff to my PVT studs.

Good luck and keep in the books. You might want to look in the W&B part of the POH (Chapter 6) for more info on this subject.

TX

Actually txpilot, this course is payed through by tax like regular school because it's a function of my homeschool.I'm not paying a dime. There are classes in many locations for tech such as culinary arts , auto mechanic etc. being that I want to eventually fly for the airlines I choose aviation/flightscience/pilot course. Immediatley when I walk through the doors I could tell i'd love that class.The teacher teaches across the street at suny so maybe he thinks we're his suny class .I am taking total advantage of this year and next years classes this way I have a heads up for college. Thanks for the tip i'll ask my teacher if I could borrow the pilot operating handbook for the weekend.

[Stone Cold]

That's awesome. Glad to hear somebody is taking advantage of what's out there. Try to borrow the POH. If you're using a specific a/c let me know...I have a POH or two around here that I may be willing to donate to a worthy cause. No, I'm not getting rid of all my POH's, I do have a couple of duplicates, though.

TX

[frog_flyer]

argggghhh. i bet you have a 172m laying around! wish i woulda known that before i shelled out 35!

[captainphil]

Originally Posted by txpilot

That's awesome. Glad to hear somebody is taking advantage of what's out there. Try to borrow the POH. If you're using a specific a/c let me know...I have a POH or two around here that I may be willing to donate to a worthy cause. No, I'm not getting rid of all my POH's, I do have a couple of duplicates, though.

TX

The a/c im flying now are 172s/ and a substitute 152 sumtimes .