TOO Light on wing loading? Such a thing?

[LJJ]

Hey guys....

when would you consider a wing loading TOO light? 2600 in2 of wing area on a 40%'r at 40# gets you around 35 oz/ft2 Get that down to 30# and you are looking at 24 oz/ft2.... Is that too light? Foamy's cruise around at 5-10 oz/ft2

I guess I'm trying to figure out that happy point where 3D is awesome, but it's still got the inertia to go big on gyro moves.

Anyone adding weight at the wing tube to get better snaps and tumbles? (Remove for 3D time)

[bodywerks]

I would probably be that last person you'd hear this from, but yes, you can get too light. Also, as the size of the plane goes up, so does the wingloading, so a foamy would actually fly too heavy at, say a 15 ounce loading, whereas a 30%er would float around like a kite at the same wingloading and would get blown all around in the wind, would have a hard time snapping, etc.
I don't think you will hear of anyone actually adding dead weight to a plane to get it to fly better, either. A 32-38 ounce wingloading on a 40%er is just fine (in fact, 32 ounces might be too low!). Fly it like it is and don't add weight, for goodness sake!

[SargeNZ]

Yes.... You can definatley get too light! I think that some foamie types have a hard time getting a clean stall break once they get too light. My lastest design has about 1/5 less wing area than the previous one simple because the old one flew too damn light!

I guess it also depends on the application. An indoor loaded foamie might get blown around like a dry fart in the wind, Whereas take that same airframe and make it a little more weighty you might find it becomes alot easier to handle. Im not saying weight is GOOD.... no, weight is hardly ever GOOD. Just that a more heavier loaded model might actually give you more of a feel to the controls and be surer in the air.

[Wayne]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bodywerks
	I don't think you will hear of anyone actually adding dead weight to a plane to get it to fly better, either. [/font]

Glider guys do it all the time. Ballast.

[bodywerks]

Sure. I did my share of sloap soaring and know about that, but would you strap 4 pounds to your Dalton's wing tube to get it to do aerobatics better?!

[Wayne]

Nope.
I was just messing with you.

I do think that you can be too light for flying precision in the wind.
I dont know what the magic weight should be for a 40% plane flying precision is but, I think that at some point, too light in a strong, blustery wind isnt good.

[SleepyC]

Also... how light can you go before you compromise structural integrity?!

[Wayne]

Depnds on the plane.
Walt cut out a lot of my Carden 260 and its fine.
Ivan's has even more cut out and his is holding up fine.

[SleepyC]

	Quote:
	Depnds on the plane. Walt cut out a lot of my Carden 260 and its fine. Ivan's has even more cut out and his is holding up fine.

Oh yea.. but both walt and Ivan did it within reason.
I mean if you tried to get a carden 260 down to say 33 lbs... some integrity would have to be lost? no?

[Wayne]

Kurt Koellings new Carden 260 is 34.13.
I dont know what they did to get it that light but he swears it is.

I havent seen anyone take weight out of a Carden that resulted in structural problems.
Most of those have been in the 36-38.5 range.

[SleepyC]

WOW.
nice!

[DKnippen]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Wayne
	Kurt Koellings new Carden 260 is 34.13. I dont know what they did to get it that light but he swears it is. I havent seen anyone take weight out of a Carden that resulted in structural problems. Most of those have been in the 36-38.5 range.

Wayne,
My bathroom scale at home works good like that ......Just kidding! Have you seen Kurt fly his new one yet?