I have noticed a trend in airplanes that bothers me. Aircraft seem to be using more h/p and fuel to move fewer and fewer pounds of payload.
A couple of examples:
Original Piper Lance, useful load 1600+ pounds
Current Saratoga, useful load less than 1200 pounds.
What happened to more than 400 pounds of useful load?
The new Mooneys gross 3300 pounds and show a useful load per Mooney of 1100 pounds.
The old Executive grossed 2740 pounds and showed a useful load of 1100 pounds. That is 560 pounds more airplane to carry the same useful load. Since the fuel consumption has gone up with the larger engine, the range with a given load of people and baggage has decreased.
Am I missing something?
Scott [IMG]/ibb/skins/default/emoticons/confused.gif[/IMG]
All Comments
Well Scott, the answer is guite simple. As planes evolve new and usually heavy equipment is available. Stuff like soundproofing material,wall to wall carpeting adds up those valuable pounds - not to mention air-conditioning and entertainment centre on New Piper Saratogas or The TKS weeping wing anti-ice system on new Mooneys. Want better comfort on Your machine, be prepared to sacrifice
useful payload.
Buyers want speed but they find out they're going to have to pay for it. A thick, high-lifting wing won't go as fast as a thin, high-speed wing without a major increase in power. The Mooney's a good example. If it had a Cherokee wing on it, it would haul refrigerators, very slowly.
Top Rated
Tip of the Week
brought to you by
Take extra care to avoid activities that might detract from flying.
Partner Pages
