Wing loading and water ballast

Why racing pilots fill their wings with water and dump it before landing. Wing loading, the same glide at a higher speed, slower climbs and wider circles, and when water pays.

What you learn

• Work out wing loading from mass and wing area
• Explain why ballast keeps the glide but raises the speed
• Name the cost: higher minimum sink, wider circles
• Decide when water pays and when to fly dry
• Know when to dump: landing, landing out, freezing

In playlists

• Planning and performance
• Gliding and soaring

Also on

• Video course: Soaring