TABLE OF CONTENTS future growth potential looks unlimited one gross weight doubling, possibly two, is predicted by 1985; nuclear power can drive the optimum weight to 5 to 10 million pounds by the year 2000.
F.A. Cleveland [55], 1970
The aircraft's weight influences the flight performance more than any other parameter, including engine power. Calculation of the weight effects will be done in the next chapters. Weight has been of concern since the earliest days of aeronautics; just recall the fact that the first attempts to fly were based on lighter-than-air concepts. Therefore, we devote this chapter to the weight analysis and the relative aspects, such as weight definitions, useful loads, weight reporting formats, and the relative approximations. The discussion will be confined to the operational phase of the aircraft.
[55]Cleveland F.A. Size effects in conventional aircraft design. J. Aircraft, 7(6):483 512, Nov. 1970.
By 1914, it was believed that the limiting weight of the airplane could not exceed 2,000 lb (about 800 kg). By comparison, Baumann [56] wrote an alarming report in 1920, prompted by the construction of giant airplanes in Germany during the war airplanes weighing as much as 15.5 tons, and powered by as much as 260 hp (195 kW) engines. Interest in large airplanes was sparkled by excitement in the very early days, with F.W. Lanchester and Handley Page [57] expressing their views. Lanchester's opinions on this matter are recorded by Kingsford [58].
Cleveland's forecast in 1970...
