Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!eagle!alice!kco From: kco@alice.UUCP Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: wing loading Message-ID: <1935@alice.UUCP> Date: Thu, 16-Jun-83 10:34:39 EDT Article-I.D.: alice.1935 Posted: Thu Jun 16 10:34:39 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 23:15:07 EDT Lines: 9 A student pilot friend recently told me about a book on soaring that said (apparently trying to make an intuitive impression) it "only" takes about 2 oz. per square inch of lift surface to keep an average 15 meter sailplane flying. This works out to 18 lb/sq ft. A more reasonable number for sailplanes would seem to be 3-4 lb/sq ft, given say a 2-33A and a hefty pilot that together weigh about 800lbs and a lift area of about 240 sq ft. Can anyone give some representative numbers for other aircraft - anywhere from a Cub to a 747? Does high wing loading always imply a high speed cruiser and low wing loading a floater?