Theory of Flight

6.06 Loads and Load Factor

References:
FTGU pages 17-18, 34-35

Review
1. Where is the centre of pressure in straight
flight, just before a stall and after a stall?
2. What are some factors that increase stalling
speed?

3. What are the symptoms of a stall?

4. When can an aircraft stall?

6.06 Loads and Load Factor

MTPs:
Definitions
Load Factor
changes
Load Factor in Turns
Forces in a turn

Weight
1. What is weight?
The downward FORCE due to gravity that acts
opposed to lift
Acts through the centre of gravity

Weight
What happens if

Weight is greater than lift?

Lift is greater than weight?

Loading
Gross weight of the
aircraft divided by the
area of lifting surfaces
(wings)

= Load

2 Types
Live Load
Dead Load

Dead Load vs Live Load

Dead Load
The load put on the
aircraft when it is sitting
on the ground. Weight
due to gravity.

Live Load
Additional loads are
added in flight due to
acceleration or
change in direction
associated with
manoeuvres

Load Factor
Load Factor
Ratio of the actual load
acting on the wings to
the gross weight of the
airplane
Live Load : Dead Load
In straight and level flight
the load factor is 1

Load Factor Changes

The load factor is increased

any time the aircraft is not in
straight and level flight
Due to:
Performing aircraft
manoeuvre
Wind Gusts
Turbulence

Load Factor
Is loading a bad thing?....No but it could cause problems
1. Structural Limitation
Each aircraft is designed with a max load factor that
should not be exceeded as permanent damage may
occur
SGS 2-33a Max Load = 4.67 G
C152 Max Load = 4.4 G

Load Factor
2. Increased Stall speed
Increased load factor during manoeuvres in flight
requires increased lift to maintain level flight
Critical angle of attack is reached at an increased speed
Stall speed increases
More on stalls in 6.07

Load factor
during flight

Speed to reach
critical angle of
attack

Stall
speed

Load Factors in Turns

As angle of bank is increased in a turn the load
factor and amount of lift required also increases
Load factor increases exponentially with angle of
bank
Angle of
Bank

Load Factor

15

1.04 G

30

1.15 G

45

1.41 G

60

2G

Forces in a Turn
In a turn
Lift is divided into two components = vertical and
horizontal

Forces in a Turn
Vertical component
opposes weight
Horizontal
component causes
airplane to turn
This horizontal
component is known
as centripetal force

Forces in a Turn
Pulls plane
into the
centre of the
turn

Resulting lift
due to added
horizontal
components

Pulls plane to
outside of
the turn

Forces in a Turn
Centripetal versus Centrifugal Force

Centripetal Force

Centrifugal Force

Pulls INTO the turn

Pushes AWAY from turn

Genuine force

Inertial (fictitious) force

This is the force you feel

going around a corner in a
vehicle. It pulls in the
opposite direction of a
turn.

Confirmation
Fill in the blanks:
Load factor =

What is the difference between live load and

dead load?

Confirmation
Label where the centripetal and centrifugal forces are.

If this aircraft is
doing a 60
degree of bank
turn, how many
Gs is it
experiencing?
When does an
aircraft
experience a 1G

CP140 Aurora