Center of Gravity / Gross Weight Envelope Indication

[Buznee]

This one should be rather simple but essential for a sim of this detail. In the aircraft loadout screen in the mission editor we should be able to see the center of gravity of the aircraft just as we see the weight. There should also be limits to let you know whether you are inside or outside the center of gravity limits. A center of gravity vs gross weight plot (also called a potato plot) that shows you were you are with regards to the gross weight / cg envelope would be very useful. Here's a sample below. Simple enough to implement no?

 

 

PS: It could even show you a fuel burn line so that you can see how much your center of gravity and gross weight vary during the flight as you burn fuel / and or release weapons.

[Exorcet]

Ironically, we had left/right weight balance in LOMAC. Even though it didn't impact the flying at all. It would be nice to see it return now that it matters. I think I preferred most of the LOMAC armament screen actually.

[effte]

For tactical aircraft, you're typically far less concerned with mass properties calculations. You have a pilot and fuel, and so far you can't go outside of the envelope by design. Then you have a number of approved loadouts, where mass properties are one of the smaller concerns but still verified beforehand to be OK. Any potential issues will be noted as restrictions.

 

BTW, potato plots are a specific variation of mass properties charts, where you make semiscientific assumptions as to how the cabin is filled in a passenger aircraft. This produces a plot of most forward/aft center of mass with increasing number of pax which is reminiscent of a couple of potatoes stacked on each other - hence the name.

 

Cheers,

/Fred

[Buznee]

Thanks for the reply guys. Agreed regarding the potato plot and the fact the aircraft has pre-approved loadouts. The thing is, does a pilot really pick his loadout in the air force for example or is that provided to him? As a real pilot myself I always thought it was the pilot's responsibility to make sure he is within the CG envelope and weight limits of the aircraft. I just think it would be something nice to have in the sim. Also it's nice to know if you are closer to the forward cg or aft cg limit so that you can anticipate things like takeoff trim and aircraft handling before getting in the air. I understand modern aircraft have stability augmentation systems and such but its still nice to know.

[effte]

What you do not do is to go around designing loadouts of your own. While you could (should) be able to sort out the mass properties, there are a lot of other issues to consider. Flutter, aerodynamic interference, the safe separation of stores, inertia and the effect on flight control systems, structural loads...

 

Edit: Now someone will step in and say that it is done, and it was/is always, somewhere... but it could be argued that it shouldn't be. Then, there's peacetime and wartime. In wartime, the damndest things go on wings without all the testing. There's even the famous lavatory... :)

Edited August 3, 2014 by effte