REFLECTOR: Gross weights

[David Staten]

Scott Derrick wrote:

>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?
>  
>
This is a gross oversimplification, but essentially Va goes DOWN the 
heavier you are... think of it this way... Va is the changeover point 
between stalling the plane and breaking the plane at a given weight 
(again.. gross oversimplification for purists)... for radical or abrupt 
maneuvering. The idea is that at or below Va for a given weight, you 
will stall the load bearing surfaces before you exceed the design load 
limits or incur damage.

Va is separate and distinct from the yellow arc, in which you should 
avoid turbulence/remain in smooth air (I believe the operant condition 
is a 50 fps vertical gust). If you are in VERY bad turbulence, slowing 
to VA isnt a bad idea, either.

Dave