Site icon Model Flight

Wing Loading Charts for Model Airplanes

Figure wing area using formulas above by picking the wing shape that best matches your plane.

Wing loadings are figured by dividing the wing area of your plane by 144 to convert square inches to square feet. Then divide the weight of your airplane by your wing area in square feet. Wing area in sq. in./ 144 = wing area in sq. ft. Weight of model in ounces/wing area in sq. ft. = ounces/sq.ft.of wing loading.

The charts below provide a shortcut to figuring wing loading for those competition events that require a minimum wing loading such as those flown in SAM (Society of Antique Modelers).

To figure a minimum weight for a wing area other than those on the chart you divide wing area in square inches / 144 to get wing area in square feet. Multiply wing area in square feet by minimum weight in ounces per square feet desired which equals target minimum weight. Sq in. wing area /144 = ounces/sq ft. ; ounces/sq ft. x min ounces per sq ft desired = target minimum weight.

(example: a plane with 485 sq in of wing area and we want a target minimum wing loading of 20oz / sq ft. (485 sq.in. / 144 = 3.37sq. ft. x 20 oz. per sq.ft. = 67oz target minimum weight of airplane.)

Minimun Weights At 8 oz/sq ft
Sq. In. Of Wing AreaWeight in Oz. and lbs.
1448 oz. / .5 lbs
28816 oz / 1 lbs
43224 oz / 1.5 lbs
57632 oz / 2 lbs
72040 oz / 2.5 lbs
86448 oz / 3 lbs
100856 oz / 3.5lbs
115664 oz / 4 lbs
129672 oz / 4.5lbs
144080 oz / 5 lbs
158488 oz / 5.5 lbs
172896 oz / 6 lbs
1872104 oz / 6.5 lbs
2016112 oz / 7 lbs
Minimun Weights At 10 oz/sq ft
Sq. In. Of Wing AreaWeight in Oz. and lbs.
1168 oz. / .5 lbs
23116 oz / 1 lbs
34624 oz / 1.5 lbs
46232 oz / 2 lbs
57640 oz / 2.5 lbs
69248 oz / 3 lbs
80756 oz / 3.5lbs
92264 oz / 4 lbs
103772 oz / 4.5lbs
115280 oz / 5 lbs
126888 oz / 5.5 lbs
138396 oz / 6 lbs
1498104 oz / 6.5 lbs
1613112 oz / 7 lbs
Exit mobile version