That's why I never needed to complete a weight and balance sheet before each flight

 

Well that's nice and all, but what does it have to do with the topic at hand?  Given that we often fly aircraft in the sim for which we don't have accurate data to do manual W&B calculations, the fact that the in-sim tool may not work properly is an issue worth discussion.  I would expect anyone wanting to use the sim in a realistic fashion would/should care about whether the tool we're given works properly so that they can use what's available to keep the model they're flying within proper limits. 

 

If you're not interested in that discussion because it's not the method you'd use IRL (a pretty obvious point, don't you think?) then why participate?

 

Scott

So I should weigh myself before each flight and then weigh the fuel and oil?

 

 

Hot and high has very little to do with weight and balance.

 

Unless I misunderstand what you are saying, that is totally incorrect.

 

Your w/b calcs should include altitude and temperature. If you calc max load at sea level and then load that same amount at alt and temp (hot and high) you may never get off the ground.

 

I agree it's not the ONLY consideration but the possibility of dying if you get it wrong seems more to me that "very little to do".

 

Vic

Unless I misunderstand what you are saying, that is totally incorrect.

 

Your w/b calcs should include altitude and temperature. If you calc max load at sea level and then load that same amount at alt and temp (hot and high) you may never get off the ground.

 

I agree it's not the ONLY consideration but the possibility of dying if you get it wrong seems more to me that "very little to do".

 

Vic

 

`Hot and high` comes from the weather checklist.

Weight and Balance comes from the weight & balance checklist.

Former AWAYS done before the latter.

 

As any non-gambling pilot checks the weather before they preflight the aircraft the `weight` you take to your W&B check is already calculated against the weather as a derived function. From there you calculate balance.

It's why you recalculate W&B before every flight. Weather change can impact on the weight you can take into the air; runway requirements differ every single time - wet grass creates considerably more drag than dry tarmac. Long wet grass more so. Now think long wet grass, with an uphill takeoff run. 

 

Obviously W&B needs to be calculated - or at least considered - before every flight. If my BFL was based on my original takeoff on wet grass with an uphill run and a full tank, and an hour later I'm taking off on a long concrete runway with only `fuel used` to be considered in the intervening period, then my W&B calcs should still be well within parameters. I only know that because my weather preflight will have confirmed information for the weight parameter. If anything has changed to the nett negative, then one re-calculates.

 

And for original enquirer, between FS9 and FSX the parameter by which model centre is calculated changed, but the CG graphics weren't.

FSX and P3D share the same error and it is a pity it hasn't been fixed. Cannot think of a way to calculate W&B from the sim as a derived function, so unless there is a tool available that corrects this, perhaps raise it with LM for their bug list?

 

Preflight is one area that LM could still improve upon. A valuable tool for teaching, as this topic reveals.

I flew in the UK where we don't have high/hot airfields. That's why I never needed to complete a weight and balance sheet before each flight

 

That wasn't a good flying school then! Every student should know the weight and balance of their training aircraft. For example the "Tin Parachute" aka Rallye. Put someone on the rear bench and the CoG can be seriouly compromised. Two pilots in the front and a lady of no more than size 8 in the back and your good to go.

Not only that you always need to do a weight and balace calculation for the amount of fuel and any pax. It isn't rocket science and I'm very surprised that your flying school never checked whether you had done it.

It was good flying club. It told me how to create a weight and balance sheet and, more importantly, when it’s needed and importantly when it’s not needed  - unlike some non-pilots here who insist on creating a sheet "before each flight."

 

I never needed one when I took one of the club’s  C150s on a solo cross-country flight, and even less  on the return flight.

It was good flying club. It told me how to create a weight and balance sheet and, more importantly, when it’s needed and importantly when it’s not needed  - unlike some non-pilots here who insist on creating a sheet "before each flight."

 

I never needed one when I took one of the club’s  C150s on a solo cross-country flight, and even less  on the return flight.

 

Interesting. The C150 is one of those aircraft renowned for having CG issues.

Typical range is between 33.4 and 36" after of datum.(datum of most C150's is taken from the firewall so everything `+` is aft of that point).

Pilot and Passenger weights are nominally on the 39" line.

 

What this means is that, even solo, you should be weighing the flight bag, and considering the moment arm where that flight bag is placed. On the seat or behind the seat.

And as that datum range represents roughly 25-33% of wing chord, and at the lighter end of TOW the CG range drops to 32.5-36" from 33.4-36" while the fuel weight sits on +42", there is a real requirement to calculate CofG on the 150 to make sure that used fuel hasn't moved the CG forward, potentially out of CG range for the lighter TOW. And made the flight bag go behind the seat.

 

Unlikely, but unless you calculate how can you know?

 

QED. 

 

And you don't need a slide rule or degree in math. I simply have a spreadsheet on my palmtop or I-phone with the specifics for that aircraft. You would already have loaded the sheet for the first flight of the day, slot in the `new` numbers at each stop. Literally seconds to review.

 

You can do the same for density altitude. And even runway surface if one wishes to be thorough. And safe.

 

I never needed one when I took one of the club’s  C150s on a solo cross-country flight, and even less  on the return flight.

Certainly if you're flying solo. But if you're taking a couple of mates across to Le Touquet for lunch you would need to do one!

Unless I misunderstand what you are saying, that is totally incorrect.

 

Your w/b calcs should include altitude and temperature. If you calc max load at sea level and then load that same amount at alt and temp (hot and high) you may never get off the ground.

 

I agree it's not the ONLY consideration but the possibility of dying if you get it wrong seems more to me that "very little to do".

 

Vic

 

+1

 

Getting back on topic...

 

Has anyone else noticed difficulty in changing the Weight/Balance/CofG settings for certain aircraft in P3D?

+1

 

Getting back on topic...

 

Has anyone else noticed difficulty in changing the Weight/Balance/CofG settings for certain aircraft in P3D?

 

See #19. Not difficult, Simply not reflecting virtual reality.

Unlikely, but unless you calculate how can you now?

 

I know because I've made the same flight in the same conditions and so I don't need to create a sheet "before each flight." You would create a sheet on tyake-off initially and then create an other one on the return flight?

 

Certainly if you're flying solo. But if you're taking a couple of mates across to Le Touquet for lunch you would need to do one!

 

That's why I said that I don't need one "before each flight."

 

 

 

Your w/b calcs should include altitude and temperature.

 

My C150's weight and balance calculations don't include them. Nor do they include "weather change can impact on the weight you can take into the air; runway requirements differ every single time - wet grass creates considerably more drag than dry tarmac. Long wet grass more so."

I think some add on modelers use odd CoG values when they design the aircraft to create the realistic feel of the aircraft they are trying to model, i remember the posky models having the weight displayed very nose heavy, i do agree that it shouldn't be needed but i have known lots of aircraft to show odd CoG values!

I think some add on modelers use odd CoG values when they design the aircraft to create the realistic feel of the aircraft they are trying to model, i remember the posky models having the weight displayed very nose heavy, i do agree that it shouldn't be needed but i have known lots of aircraft to show odd CoG values!

 

That's interesting. Could be the reason then thanks for the info.

My C150's weight and balance calculations don't include them. Nor do they include "weather change can impact on the weight you can take into the air; runway requirements differ every single time - wet grass creates considerably more drag than dry tarmac. Long wet grass more so."

Most of the times your posts, whether irritating or not, are at least intelligent. I really can't say that of this.

 

I certainly hope someone doesn't leave "put in petrol" off of your list - if it's not there you must not need it.

 

Remind me to NEVER fly with you. Either you are trolling or flat out ignorant of proper flight procedures.

 

I suspect you know them but just like to argue.

 

 

Vic

My post was directly repling to your statement that " w/b calcs should include altitude and temperature." and making the fact that my C150's weight and balance calculations don't include them.

 

Also it's a fact that my C150's weight and balance calculations also don't include"weather change can impact on the weight you can take into the air; runway requirements differ every single time - wet grass creates considerably more drag than dry tarmac. Long wet grass more so."

 

Which of those facts do you disagree with?