The thrust-to-weight ratio (T/W) is a measure of the total thrust generated by an aircraft’s engines relative to its weight. The thrust-to-weight ratio provides critical insight into an aircraft’s performance capabilities. A high thrust-to-weight ratio indicates that the aircraft has a strong power-to-weight ratio, enabling it to achieve faster acceleration, higher climb rates, and better maneuverability. Mathematically, the thrust-to-weight ratio is expressed as:
where:
- is the total thrust generated by the aircraft’s engines,
- is the loaded weight of the aircraft.