GA aircraft weight

[Guest william273]

do you have a certain or favorite weight you like loaded in the aircraft you're going to fly? like in passenger, baggage and or cargo weight and placement so the aircraft flies the way you like it to? william

[Guest Vilk]

yeah. 374.8 lbs does it for me. perfect weight. :-|

[JimmiG 244]

Usually just the pilot using my real weight and some baggage (gotta have sleeping bags for those overnight stays out in the bush). Sometimes with smaller aircraft I load a second passenger to stop the aircraft from rolling to the left.

[Guest william273]

hehehe. thanks jimmiG and glad to hear i'm not the only one using another passenger to help stop that left roll. that's about all i use except for whatever fuel weight i will need. i'm still experimenting. thanks again. william

[Guest william273]

hi vilk, thanks for letting me know. i had a feeling there might be a perfect weight as i'm finding out trying different ones.i have narrowed it down a good bit but am glad to know there is one or one close to it. william

[Guest Armstrang]

I use my real weight, and I usually take my wife along in the right seat at her real weight, especially in planes that aren't single-pilot certified. We take 50# or more baggage, and usually we can take off with most of our fuel. Sometimes, I add a friend or two and their bags, when the plane will take it. Using real weights adds some interest to the thing. I am now hitting the gym regularly, as a result...

[Guest william273]

hi steve, thanks. that's almost a fully loaded plane. do you find it flies alittle differently than with a lighter loadout? william

[Guest Armstrang]

William: Yes, the heavily loaded planes are more tender to fly. Sometimes, I must offload some fuel to make it all work. I also go with just the pilot or with one pax. I try to use all the planes, from the C172 to the B777, with varying loads to add some spice to the soup.

[Guest Vilk]

i have my moments of doubt tho'. sometimes i suspect there might be a different "sweet spot" for everyone...;)

[Guest william273]

thanks steve. you've been a big help. william