Wing Loading Calculator — Flight Characteristics

Wing loading is the weight of the aircraft divided by the wing area. It indicates how much lift each unit of wing area must generate. Lower wing loading means slower flight, gentler stalls and easier handling. Higher wing loading means faster flight but trickier low-speed handling.

For trainers, aim for 30-50 g/sq.dm (approx 10-16 oz/sq.ft). This gives a forgiving, easy-to-fly model that can fly slowly without stalling easily. As you gain experience, move to 50-70 g/sq.dm (approx 16-23 oz/sq.ft) for more responsive handling.

Aspect ratio is wingspan divided by chord. High aspect ratio (8-15) means efficient lift but slow roll rate — good for gliders. Low aspect ratio (3-5) gives fast roll rate — good for aerobatics. Medium (5-8) suits sport planes.

Either increase wing area (bigger wings) or reduce weight. Light construction techniques, lighter batteries and minimising unnecessary equipment all help. For a given wing, use the lightest battery that gives acceptable flight time.