Wing Loading - Range of Wing Loadings

Range of Wing Loadings

Aircraft Buzz Z3 Fun 160 ASK 21 Nieuport 17 Ikarus C42 Cessna 152 Vans RV-4 DC-3 Spitfire Messerschmitt Bf-109 B-17 B-36 Eurofighter F-104 A380 B747 MD-11F
Wing Loading
(kg/m2)		 3.9 6.3 33 38 38 51 67 123 158 173 190 272 311 514 663 740 844
Role paraglider hang glider glider fighter microlight trainer sports airliner fighter fighter bomber bomber fighter fighter-bomber airliner airliner airliner
Year 2010 2007 1979 1916 1997 1978 1980 1936 1942 1941 1938 1949 1998 1958 2007 1970 1990

The table, which shows wing loadings, is intended to give an idea of the range of wing loadings used by aircraft. Maximum weights have been used. There will be variations amongst variants of any particular type. The dates are approximate, indicating period of introduction.

The critical limit for bird flight is about 5 lb/ft2 (25 kg/m2). An analysis of bird flight which looked at 138 species ranging in mass from 10 g to 10 kg, from small passerines to swans and cranes found wing loadings from about 1 to 20 kg/m2. The wing loadings of some of the lightest aircraft fall comfortably within this range. One typical hang-glider (see table) has a maximum wing loading of 6.3 kg/m2, and an ultralight rigid glider 8.3 kg/m2.

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