REFLECTOR: Gross weights

[Scott Derrick]

 >>I agree with Steve K., adding extra weight "eats" into the loading 
strength safety factor - in other words, advise caution on high speeds 
in turb conditions.

This sounds odd(wrong) to me..    For any airplane you reduce 
Maneuvering (Va) speed if you are light. The speed for Va given in most 
POH's is for gross weight and you reduce that speed the lighter you 
are.  It would seem logical to me that Va would be reduced even further 
the heavier you were?

So unless somebody can  show me the beef , I  will continue to fly under 
the understanding that the heavier I am the safer I am as far as 
turbulence is concerned(at the same speed)..  An added benefit to being 
heavy is you also get a  smoother ride in turbulence.

Now I will agree that the heavier you are requires a softer landing.   
Three of the requirements to increasing my gross is to upgrade the nose 
gear including the new XL type bushings, add additional carbon torsional 
wraps to the main gear and upgrade the brakes.

Scott D.

Scott Baker wrote:
> I have flown the factory 173FG (200hp) up to 2900 pounds (sea level, 
> 80-degrees) doing some heavy lifting studies for a customer - the 
> aircraft lifted off within 2000' and sustained a climb rate of 400 to 
> 500 fpm - finally got it to 10,000' - aircraft handled well, just 
> lacking climb performance with the 200hp.  I agree with Steve K., 
> adding extra weight "eats" into the loading strength safety factor - 
> in other words, advise caution on high speeds in turb conditions.
> SB
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* NMFlyer1 at aol.com <mailto:NMFlyer1 at aol.com>
>     *To:* reflector at tvbf.org <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>
>     *Sent:* Saturday, June 24, 2006 1:02 AM
>     *Subject:* REFLECTOR: Gross weights
>
>     Seemed like a good time to ask this question with all the W&B
>     questions.
>      
>     I have a 173 FGE. Empty weight is supposed to be between 1250 and
>     1400 LBS. With what I have done installing the aluminum 4.3L
>     Chevy, Superfilling all the flying & control surfaces,,, etc.... I
>     should come in about 1400LBS.
>      
>     The thing is, I have 340 HP in a 173 for about the same weight as
>     a 200HP IO-360.
>     Where do I put my gross weight?  I know Bill Mulrooney put his V8
>     powered 173RG at 2900lbs with his extra power (and lots of extra
>     weight). I did get a tad of advice from a factory rep. I was told
>     to add up the empty weight of my plane... full fuel... four-200LB
>     people, and 200 LBS of baggage. Then add 100LBS and use that
>     number. The reasoning was that my plane will haul almost anything
>     with the extra HP, and you want to make sure that you are ALWAYS
>     within W&B on paperwork to satisfy the FAA and insurance toads.
>      
>     Any input? 
>      
>     Thanks   Kurt
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     _______________________________________________
>     To change your email address, visit
>     http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
>     Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
>     user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
>     Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
>     Check old archives:
>     http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html

-- 

-
    Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.

    George Bernard Shaw, Liberty