How does weight affect the motion of a plane?
How does weight affect the motion of a plane? The weight is distributed throughout the airplane. But we can often think of it as collected and acting through a single point called the center of gravity. In flight, the airplane rotates about the center of gravity, but the direction of the weight force always remains toward the center of the earth.
Does weight matter on a plane?
Weight affects the balance point of the aircraft. This is one of the most important points of an airplane because it directly impacts the stability and performance of the aircraft.
What happens if a plane has too much weight?
Operating over weight will cause the aircraft to not meet the climb rates published in POH/AFM data, require longer runway distance for takeoff, lessen single-engine performance in a multi-engine aircraft, reduce glide distance in an emergency, and contribute to poor stablity if a stall is encountered, potentially ...
Why do heavy planes fly lower?
Above this altitude the aircraft cannot fly fast enough to generate enough lift to stay aloft. This is affected by: weight (more weight needs more lift) engine power (more lift means more drag, that is overcome by engine power)