The “empty weight” of an aircraft, often referred to as the “basic empty weight” or “unladen weight,” represents the weight of the aircraft without any passengers, cargo, or fuel. It includes the weight of the airframe, engines, avionics, fixed equipment, and any required operating fluids such as oil and hydraulic fluid. The empty weight is a crucial parameter in aircraft design and operations, as it forms the basis for various weight and balance calculations.
The formula for calculating the empty weight () of an aircraft is as follows:
- is the empty weight of the aircraft (typically in kilograms or pounds).
- Each term on the right side of the equation represents the weight of specific components or categories of items on the aircraft, typically in kilograms or pounds.