Estimating Takeoff

weight from a
conceptual sketch
1. takeoff-weight
buildup

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2. Empty-weight estimation

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3. fuel-fraction estimation

Wx : the aircraft weight at the end of the total mission

Wi : the aircraft weight at the end of the mission segment i

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3. fuel-fraction estimation
(3)

(4)
(2)

(1) (5)

Simple cruise
(1) warmup and takeoff (2)climb (3) cruise (4) loiter (5)
land

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 Table 3.2. historical mission
segment weight fractions
Wi/W(i-1)

Warmup and takeoff 0.970

Climb 0.985

Landing 0.995
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3. fuel-fraction estimation

R = range E = endurance or loiter time

C = specific fuel consumption
V = velocity L/D = lift-to-drag ratio

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4. Specific fuel consumption
Typical
Cruise Loiter
jet SFC’s
Pure
0.9 0.8
turbojet
Low-
bypass 0.8 0.7
turbofan
High-
bypass 0.5 0.4
turbofan

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5. L/D ESTIMATION
Cruise Loiter

0.866L/Dma
Jet L/Dmax
x

0.866L/Dma
Prop L/Dmax
x

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6. DESIGN EXAMPLE
m
Antisubmarine warfare (ASW) 1500n
se
Crui
500nm

Lo
1
Cruise r s

ite
3 hou

r2
er
Loit

0
m
in
Crew weight = 800 lbs
b
im

Payload = 10,000 lbs

Cl

Cruise at 0.6 Mach number Land

Warmup and takeoff
Sample mission profile

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Conceptual sketches

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asw sizing calculation

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asw sizing calculation
Wo guess We/Wo Wo calculated

50,000 0.4361 61,057

60,000 0.4305 59,191

59,200 0.4309 59,328

59,300 0.4309 59,311

59,310 0.4309 59,309.6

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thanks!

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