Responsibility and Principal Dimensions

Before the numbers, the handbook settles who answers for what: the owner for the airplane's condition, the pilot in command for each flight. Then come the airplane's principal outside measurements.

At a glance

• Wing span35 ft 6 in
• Overall length24 ft
• Overall height7 ft 3.6 in
• Main wheel track10 ft
• Wheel base (nose wheel to main wheels)6 ft 6.91 in
• Stabilator span12 ft 10.48 in
• Minimum turning radius (pivot point to wing tip)30 ft
• Wing chord (inboard rectangular panel)5 ft 3 in
• Wing chord (tip)3 ft 6.2 in

Who is responsible

• The owner — assures that the airplane is in airworthy condition.

• The pilot in command — decides whether the airplane is safe for flight, and keeps the flight within the limits set by the instrument markings, the placards and the handbook.

Principal dimensions

The span is measured wing tip to wing tip; the wheel base runs from the nose wheel back to the main wheels. The wing has two chords worth knowing: the inboard panel is rectangular, so its chord is constant, and the chord is shorter at the tip.

Figure: Principal dimensions (redrawn).

The minimum turning radius, 30 ft, is taken from the pivot point out to the wing tip.

Check yourself

• Who is responsible for airworthiness, and who decides a flight is safe?

• What are the wing span and the overall length?

• From which point, to which point, is the minimum turning radius measured?

• How does the wing chord differ between the inboard panel and the tip?

Study aid — always fly your aircraft's current AFM/POH.