weight and balance app
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
weight and balance app
Is there an app for weight and balance ? If not, is there a spread sheet template?
Carl
Carl
- Bruce Fenstermacher
- Posts: 10266
- Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am
Re: weight and balance app
There are apps the can be adapted such as the W&B part of ForeFlight, but none that I know will work well specifically for the 170 as the spreads I created a long long time ago. You can find them here:
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... 26&t=10379
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... 26&t=10379
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
- rickyricky2
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2014 1:33 am
Re: weight and balance app
I use Aviation W&B Calculator by Roy Kronefeld on my I phone.
Dick Bryant
N2704C
Dick Bryant
N2704C
Re: weight and balance app
Your Link doesn't appear to work now. Can I get a copy of your Excel docs?Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:There are apps the can be adapted such as the W&B part of ForeFlight, but none that I know will work well specifically for the 170 as the spreads I created a long long time ago. You can find them here:
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... 26&t=10379

'50 170A 19204 N9743A
Re: weight and balance app
I believe Ol’ Gar had a program he said worked well… something along the lines of …”if the tail won’t come up off the ground before the end of the runway, the CG ain’t keerect!”
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.

Re: weight and balance app
Here is my W&B. You will have to modify it for your particular model and aircraft.
1) The weight limits for normal and utility operations, as well as the limits for CG and the moments of seat, baggage , and fuel come from the FAA’s TCDS.
2) The empty weight was prepared and equipment list for my plane was prepared by my mechanic weighing the airplane. The calculations are no better than the data on which they are based. Is your current and correct?
The sample calculation attached shows how mine looks at max gross with full fuel, two fat guys up front, a slender person in back, and a limited amount of baggage in the rear and extended baggage areas. The CG is right in the center of the range permitted in the normal category. The Cessna engineers did a great job designing a useful airplane.
It’s good to know that if I get in the plane solo, have no baggage, and have full tanks, the CG is forward of the forward limit. It’s illegal to operate and more importantly, it’s potentially hazardous.
It’s difficult to get a conventionally configured 170B aft loaded though I am sure some creative types can do so. However, I have a very nice extended baggage and that makes it much easier to get it aft loaded. Imagine coming in heavy, aft loaded, and slowly and then discovering you inadvertently stall the plane and lack elevator authority to lower the nose. (h/t John )
1) The weight limits for normal and utility operations, as well as the limits for CG and the moments of seat, baggage , and fuel come from the FAA’s TCDS.
2) The empty weight was prepared and equipment list for my plane was prepared by my mechanic weighing the airplane. The calculations are no better than the data on which they are based. Is your current and correct?
The sample calculation attached shows how mine looks at max gross with full fuel, two fat guys up front, a slender person in back, and a limited amount of baggage in the rear and extended baggage areas. The CG is right in the center of the range permitted in the normal category. The Cessna engineers did a great job designing a useful airplane.
It’s good to know that if I get in the plane solo, have no baggage, and have full tanks, the CG is forward of the forward limit. It’s illegal to operate and more importantly, it’s potentially hazardous.
It’s difficult to get a conventionally configured 170B aft loaded though I am sure some creative types can do so. However, I have a very nice extended baggage and that makes it much easier to get it aft loaded. Imagine coming in heavy, aft loaded, and slowly and then discovering you inadvertently stall the plane and lack elevator authority to lower the nose. (h/t John )
Last edited by pdb on Tue May 10, 2022 12:55 am, edited 3 times in total.
Pete Brown
Anchorage, Alaska
N4563C 1953 170B
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2366/2527 ... 4e43_b.jpg
Anchorage, Alaska
N4563C 1953 170B
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2366/2527 ... 4e43_b.jpg
Re: weight and balance app
Peeeeetepdb wrote:....................................... Imagine coming in heavy, aft loaded, and slowly and then discovering you lack elevator authority to raise the nose.
John E. Barrett
aka. Johneb
Sent from my "Cray Super Computer"
aka. Johneb
Sent from my "Cray Super Computer"
Re: weight and balance app
John…. I am a moron, I will correct it. Thanks.
Pete Brown
Anchorage, Alaska
N4563C 1953 170B
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2366/2527 ... 4e43_b.jpg
Anchorage, Alaska
N4563C 1953 170B
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2366/2527 ... 4e43_b.jpg
- mmcmillan2
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2020 9:30 pm
Re: weight and balance app
I made one for Garmin Pilot. I may be able to share it if you use that app.
170B owner, KCFD, CFI(I), ATP Multi
Re: weight and balance app
FltPlan.com website and FltPlan Go app (both free) have a weight and balance tool with well over 1000 aircraft including all 170 models.
Bob Nealon
Southbury, CT
Southbury, CT
Re: weight and balance app
I made a new one in Excel, glad to share it. I use Foreflight now.

'50 170A 19204 N9743A