question on a/c overload

[MiloMorai]

OK you real pilots, what is an a/c overload condition?

[Ripsnort]

when you can't take off.

[MiloMorai]

Please rip, is a serious question.

Would topping up the oil tank put the a/c in an overload condition?

[Maverick]

It depends on what kind of load situation you are talking about. Do you mean loading the AC to a point where it is overweight or out of balance? It's possible to be in the gross weight level but exceed the CG fore or aft of the bird.

IIRC full oil and hydraulic fluid (if so equiped) capacity is already factored in the "empty" weight category for the bird. Fuel is not as that is far more variable.

If you are so loaded forward of CG that a full oil reservoir (assuming a dry sump and something like a radial engine with a significant tank capacity) would take you out of CG, I suppose it's possible but not very likely just on the basis of oil alone.

[MiloMorai]

OK Mav, this is what he said:

Weights change based on set up of the aircraft. The weight and balance sheets for the type list several different weights depending on the mission of the aircraft.

This particular aircraft has an empty Z-B 115liter and GM-1 fitted. That accounts for the 28KG over the 4272Kg overloaded fighter configuration.

That means all the oil and other disposables have been topped off.

Overloaded is a term used when doing weight and balance sheets for when these consumables weights are maximized.

The a/c referred to above is a Fw190A.

[Maverick]

It looks like (and I could be wrong about this) they were referring to the different categories the plane could be in. I am not familiar with what this is referring to: "This particular aircraft has an empty Z-B 115liter and GM-1 fitted". By any chance is that a bombing or rocket ordinance load out?

A combat AC can have a maneuvering weight limit and a bombing weight limit but still be in the overall load capacity for level non maneuvering flight. I am wondering if that is what is going on here.

[MiloMorai]

The 190 had an aux tank behind the pilot that could hold fuel, MW50 or GM1.

GM1 is nitrous oxide the German used as a power output enhancer.

Technical Description No. 284 for the A-8 lists 4391-4000kg for normal take off weight with the aux tank. Other Fw docs for the A-6 onwards lists a 4300kg take off weight.

[Maverick]

It might be that the takeoff weight is greater than the landing weight based on the term consumables. It's hard to say with what you have there. Interesting situation.