Load factor

Load Factor
Load factor is the ratio of the total load supported by the airplane's wing to the total weight of the airplane. In still air flight, the load on the wing equals the lift it generates. The load factor is expressed in G units.

Load factor
For a normal straight and level flight load factor is exactly one (1), lift opposes weight, load factor (G) equals G = L / W. But put the aircraft in a level 60° banked turn and the story changes.

Load factor
The percentage of capacity available to carry payload that is actually utilized. 1. Cargo load factor: The percentage of cargo load by weight based on a computed cargo weight capacity based on a density assumption.

The load factor at which a flight, or collection of flights, earns revenue equating to its expenses; i.e., at which operating or pretax profit equals zero.
Related Definitions from Aviation Glossary ...

Load factor. The ratio of a specified load to the total weight of the aircraft. The specified load is expressed in terms of any of the following: aerodynamic forces, inertial forces, or ground or water reactions.

Load factor
The proportion of seating capacity of an aircraft which is actually used.
Memorandum of understanding (MoU) ...

LOAD FACTOR (g) - The proportion between lift and weight commonly seen as g (sometimes capitalized)"a unit of force equal to the force of gravity times one.

Load Factor: The ratio of the load at which a member or structure fails to the assumed working load under specified conditions of flight.

Load Factor
The percentage of available seats that are filled with paying passengers, or the percent of freight capacity that is utilized.

load factor
The load factor is the total load supported by the wings divided by the total weight of the airplane. In straight and level flight, the load factor is 1; i.e.

load factor or loads - The percentage of available seats that are filled with paying passengers, or of freight capacity that is utilized. Average load factor is computed as the ratio of RPMs to ASMs or, in the case of cargo services, RTMs to ATMs.

G load: See load factor, 6
KCAS: ≡ knot / calibrated airspeed, 2.1
KIAS: ≡ knot / indicated airspeed, 2.1
KTAS: ≡ knot / true airspeed, 2.1
V1 : ≡ airspeed (takeoff decision), 17
VA: ≡ airspeed (maneuvering), 2 ...

The speed below which abrupt and extreme control movements are possible (though not advised) without exceeding the airframe's limiting load factors.
VFE: maximum flap extension speed (top of white arc on ASI).

It's the speed at which exceeding the limit load factor may cause permanent deformation of the aircraft structure. An aircraft normally cruises at about 85% of its top speed at any particular height.

At low speed and high load factors, say a 75 degree bank and a speed just over 2.5 times the stall speed, the aerodynamic load is inclined some 20 to 30 degrees forward.

It's a maneuver that demonstrates the relationship between four things: bank, airspeed, load factor and stall. The maneuver ultimately shows students how a quick change in direction occurs at a price: a closer proximity to stall.

flight control technology in the form of "butterfly shaped (actually paddle shaped) air combat maneuvering flaps" that were deployed from Bowden levers atop the control stick (like the brake on a Nanchang) creating lift to overcome high load factors ...

positions and load factors. The stick fixed maneuver point is the obtained as the intersection of the (d δe / dn) vs Xcg with the Xcg axis.

The angle of bank is the sole determinant of the aircraft's load factor during the turn.
[edit] See also
Coriolis force (perception)
Centripetal force
Cant (road/rail)
g-force ...

maximum takeoff weight - The maximum design weight of any aircraft on takeoff without exceeding its load factor (MTOW).
thrust - A forward force that imparts momentum to a mass of air behind it.
more glossary terms >> ...

Va - design manoeuvring speed. The speed below which abrupt and extreme
control movements are possible (though not advised) without exceeding the
airframe's limiting load factors.
Vfe - maximum flap extension speed (top of white arc on ASI).

The pilot must understand and appreciate factors such as airspeed, pitch attitude, load factor, relative wind, power setting, ...

See also: Flight, Aircraft, Aviation, Landing, Speed