Computerized weight and balance

[edasmus]

I use EXCEL which is simply a spreadsheet on the computer. Takes very little time to set up. If you have access to any type of computer spreadsheet software, you can make one. Simply use the W&B data supplied by your manual and once that is set up, you simply need to plug in your weights and at what stations for a particular flight and presto, the computer will spit out what you are looking for.

Good Luck,

Ed

[cessnadriver]

Thanks Ed. A member, Gord, just sent me the Excel W&B program. Appreciate it though.
BILLS

[billsheila]

BILLS;
Any chance you could attach that spreadsheet in a post? I also fly a 4200lb bird and am pretty much useless creating spreadsheets, but using one shoud be easy enough! Thanks

Bill Taylor

[cessnadriver]

Bill, My friend Bill just helped me modify the spreadsheet to perform the WT&BAL on the computer. I'll be happy to send it to you. I have to Thank Gord as well for his assistance in this matter. Be aware you MUST check the information in the spreadsheet for your aircraft. Not responsible for errors.
You'll need to have Excel program to use this. I'm enclosing my e-mail address because there seems to be a problem attaching it to this web site-sorry.bstory@pa.rr.com
BILLS

[Ernie Martin]

At the risk of getting in trouble, I don't EVER do a weight and balance (w&b) calculation. For like the last 10 years.

I trained with a CFI that weighed over 300 lbs, did the w&b and it was OK. Early on, when I was building a house in the Bahamas, I made some trips with just me and lots of cargo, did the w&b and it was OK (to be fair, heavier stuff like beer cases went on the 2nd row of seats or near the front of the cargo area).

After several more w&b with pretty extreme loads, I concluded that it's very hard to get a Skymaster outside the w&b parameters, if you adhere to the max weight restriction on the cargo area and use minimal common sense (obviously, if one day I have an extraordinary load, like very light kids and a heavy cargo load, I will do a w&b).

Do other readers feel the same way? Or have you found instances where a Skymaster is outside the w&b parameters?

Ernie

[JeffAxel]

Depends on the Skymaster. My 1977 T337G could only carry 400lbs in the cabin with full fuel due to all the additional equipment ( AC, intercoolers, full deice, etc.), so I was leaving myself down on fuel, and doing a W&B anytime I had more than me and one passenger. It never hurts to check, and matters more to some planes than others.

[billsheila]

Ernie;
I agree with your point, however in my case I fly "Angel Flights" and a detailed W&B is required to be done and sent in to the organization for every mission. I am trying to automate this a bit and use my iPad to simply email them the documents.
Bill