What is Wing Loading?
The wonder of flight would not be possible without the wing. From takeoff to landing, aircraft use their wings to steady and steer, so it would make sense that a plane with larger wings should perform better; however, the optimal size of an aircraft’s wing is dependent on a variety of factors. Some large aircraft require smaller wings which means they have what is referred to as high wing loading. The wing loading of an aircraft is calculated by dividing the total weight of the aircraft by the lifting surface area of its wings. Depending on the wing loading, aircraft will have different stall speeds and maneuvering abilities, as well as takeoff and landing performances. This blog will explore how wing loading works and the effects of this ratio on flight.
Wing loading affects all aspects of flight differently, with both high and low wing loadings each offering different advantages. For example, high wing loadings are better for flight stability because there is less wing surface area to be hit with winds that create turbulence. At the same time, aircraft with high wing loads require greater speeds for takeoff which can be costly as the speeds are vastly different. This can be observed in the 160 knots speed of a Boeing 747, as compared to the 35 knots speed of an ultralight plane for takeoff. The ultralight plane’s larger wing to mass ratio creates a more relative lift, while the Boeing 747 has to work harder for the same results. These factors are both important to performance; however, deciding between high and low wing loadings is not as simple as choosing between an aircraft with low gust response or low takeoff speed.
Low wing loadings offer the advantage of tighter turns because these aircraft can use their large wing surfaces to circle air currents. Some aircraft that take advantage of low wing loadings are ultralight and microlight airplanes, as well as gliders, those of which must be able to ride thermal currents without onboard propulsion. On the other hand, aircraft with high wing loadings include the X-15, the Airbus A380, and other commercial planes with powerful engines. Therefore, aircraft with higher wing loadings must also have higher power loadings. Power loading is defined as the ratio between the airplane’s weight and its engine’s power output. Since gliders have extremely low wing loadings, they require no additional power and therefore operate without power loading. Meanwhile, large fighter jets have high power loadings to make their complex maneuvers possible during flight.
One drawback of aircraft with high wing loadings is that they also have increased stall speeds and increased landing and takeoff distances. Since aircraft with high wing loadings are at risk for stalling at higher speeds than those with low wing loadings, they must be able to reach higher speeds when performing certain maneuvers, such as moving upward, to avoid a stall. Stalling can slow or halt the plane in flight, and while all planes can theoretically stall at any speed, aircraft with high wing loadings must work harder to avoid a stall. Pilots can also avoid stalls by decreasing their angle of attack or gathering speed before the aircraft devolves into a spin.
Additionally, aircraft with high wing loadings must work harder to generate lift and slow to a halt on the runway, which means they require more runway space than aircraft with low wing loadings. Depending on whether you aim to operate at low or high speeds, either low or high wing loadings will be more beneficial to your specific circumstances, so it is important to understand this ratio of design when operating aircraft.
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