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Center of Gravity Answers


  1. For the first flight, the cargo airplane is loaded with 2 Igloo cargo shells. The first fiberglass shell contains 4,550 lbs. of cargo and is located 40 feet from the reference point. The second aluminum shell contains 7,000 lbs. of cargo and is located 110 feet from the reference point. The empty mass (see specifications) is located 75 feet from the reference point. Calculate the center of gravity of your aircraft. (HINT: Don't forget to add in the weight of the Igloo shell to the mass of the cargo.)
    cg(149,080 lbs.) = (136,600 lbs.)(75 ft.) + (74,101 lbs.) (110 ft.) + (5,070 lbs.) (40 ft.)
    cg = 75.54 ft.

  2. The second flight is loaded with 2 aluminum Igloo cargo shells each containing 9,590 lbs. Your ground crew has placed one container at 120 ft. from the reference point and the other at 90 ft. from the reference point. The empty mass is still located at 75 ft. Calculate the center of gravity of your aircraft . (HINT: Don't forget to add in the weight of the Igloo shell to the mass of the cargo.)
    cg(156,600 lbs.) = (10,000 lbs.) (120 ft.) + (10,000 lbs.) (90 ft.) + (136,600 lbs.) (75 ft.)
    cg = 78.8 ft.

     
  3. Did your first flight meet your required center of gravity specifications? If you answered no, go to Question 5.
    Yes

     
  4. Did your second flight meet your required center of gravity specifications? If you answered no, go to Question 5.
    No

  5. What correction would the pilot of the airplane have to make during flight to fly the airplane as it is loaded? Where would you move your cargo shells to get the center of gravity to equal the required 75 ft.? 

    Move cargo; add or subtract mass of cargo; add cargo at needed weight or location to balance cg; pilot can make adjustment during flight with given cargo, etc.


Related Pages:
Standards
Activity
Worksheet
Lesson Index
Aerodynamics Index

 

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Editor: Tom Benson
NASA Official: Tom Benson
Last Updated: Thu, May 13 02:38:26 PM EDT 2021

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