Harrier weight higher than it should be?

[bkthunder]

According to Razbam's official manual:

nullEmtpy weight:

• Manual: 13,968 lb
• DCS mission editor: 15,966 lb

 

Loaded weight:

• Manual: 22,295 lb
• DCS mission editor: 23,724 lb

MTOW:

• Manual: 31,000 lb
• DCS mission editor: 31,085 lb

 

What gives?

Edited October 22, 2023 by bkthunder

[BMO]

and the VREST page ingame shows again a different weight. I noticed it when I wanted to make VTOL Loadouts and they showed ~20500lbs in the ME roughly 1000lbs more in game.

One thing I can think of are the 500lbs of demineralized water, but then there´s still 500lbs missing.

[buur]

In the manual the weight is without pylons, in the game the Harriers has always mounted pylons.

[bkthunder]

I don't think the AV-8B pylons can be removed IRL (not operationally), so wouldn't make sense to state the weight without pylons in the manual

[buur]

they can be removed IRL, that is the reason that weight and drag index are mentioned in the manuals.

Also you must add the weight of the pilot. (~180lb)

[bkthunder]

22 hours ago, buur said:

they can be removed IRL, that is the reason that weight and drag index are mentioned in the manuals.

Also you must add the weight of the pilot. (~180lb)

TIL! 
I have actually never seen a picture of a AV8B without pylons.
If they can be removed why don't we have this option in DCS, like we do with other airplanes?

[buur]

look at your first picture. It clearly shows a AV8B without pylons. And this is the picture where the weight stands. So you need a deep look into the document where you get this picture to get an idea what they mentioned with empty weight. With/without pilot? With/without non consumable fuels like hydraulic oils. With/without re-fueling probe and so on ...

Why you can't remove the pylons in DCS? Because RAZBAM never saw a picture of an actual Harrier without pylons. So they do not add this feature.

[Gunnar81]

Not to mention that in the image shown it appears the Gun Pod is actually shown on the 'empty' airplane.

 

[Eugel]

If you check the "Civil Plane" checkbox, it takes off 500 lbs. 
That might be the pylons, though they aren´t removed visually.

Weirdly enough you can add or remove the 500 lbs. of water in the mission editor, but it doesn´t change the weight.

[Aernov]

That picture without pylons and with a gun pod also looks like day attack modification (no FLIR on the nose).

[Gunnar81]

On 10/28/2023 at 5:25 AM, Aernov said:

That picture without pylons and with a gun pod also looks like day attack modification (no FLIR on the nose).

Good observation! You are correct!