In aircraft design and aviation, “MAC ZFW” stands for “Mean Aerodynamic Chord at Zero Fuel Weight.” It represents the mean aerodynamic chord of an aircraft’s wing when the aircraft is at its Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW). The Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) is an essential parameter used in aircraft design and balance calculations. MAC ZFW is typically measured in units of length, such as meters or feet.
Formula for MAC ZFW: The formula for calculating MAC ZFW involves dividing the wing’s total area (S) by its wingspan (b) at the Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW) condition. The formula can be expressed as:
- MAC ZFW: Mean Aerodynamic Chord at Zero Fuel Weight, measured in units like meters (m) or feet (ft).
- S: The total wing area at Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW), measured in square meters (m²) or square feet (ft²).
- b: The wingspan of the aircraft at Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW), measured in meters (m) or feet (ft).