Lesson 8: Aircraft Performance Calculations

How good of a performance can you expect?

When planning to takeoff, it is essential to do the proper planning to ensure that the aircraft will be within weight and balance limitations, not exceeding its gross takeoff weight, and know the performance calculations to determine exactly how much runway you will need for takeoff and landing, along with how much fuel you will burn and what altitude you will fly at.  These and more are essential calculations each pilot makes every time before they go fly.  In this lesson we’ll show you how to make some of the calculations by hand the “old school way” so you have a basic understanding.  In later lessons we’ll show you how to use an Ipad or other electronic flight planning apps to do the heavy math for you.

I ran out of altitude, airspeed and ideas all at the same time.When asked why he ejected. -Chuck Yeager