282. A New Emphasis on Center of Gravity

Paper

Abstract

This paper was presented at the Twentieth National Conference of the Society of Aeronautical Weight Engineers at Akron, Ohio, May 15 – 18, 1961. The advent of the jet transport has brought with it changes in operating techniques which have resulted in a requirement for more specific balance information for the purpose of setting the horizontal trim more precisely prior to the airplane takeoff. The takeoff procedure is reviewed emphasizing those periods during the takeoff when the control forces are most critical. Stick force characteristics as a function of trim settings are presented for these takeoff periods which illustrate the effect of rotation speed, critical climb speed, gross weight, and center of gravity. The effect of various tolerances on the center of gravity information used for making the trim setting is examined. Procedures which establish the center of gravity as a function of fuel, cargo, and passenger loading are proposed.