Trip Mass in aircraft design refers to the total mass of the aircraft, including passengers, cargo, and remaining fuel, at the beginning of a flight segment, often referred to as the “trip” segment. It’s an important parameter used for performance calculations and planning for a specific phase of the flight. Here’s the formula, definition, and SI unit for Trip Mass:
Formula for Trip Mass: The formula for calculating trip mass is the sum of the aircraft’s empty weight (EOW or OEW), the mass of passengers and cargo (payload), and the remaining mass of fuel on board at the beginning of the trip segment. Mathematically, it can be expressed as
- Trip Mass: The total mass of the aircraft, including passengers, cargo, and remaining fuel, at the beginning of a specific trip segment of the flight, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).
- Empty Weight (EOW or OEW): The weight of the aircraft without any payload or fuel, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).
- Payload: The combined weight of passengers, cargo, and any additional items carried on board, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).
- Initial Fuel Mass at Trip Start: The mass of fuel on board the aircraft at the beginning of the trip segment, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).