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Below is a sample of the main form of the application. You will notice that all airplanes entered in the database will appear in the list. Across the bottom are icons for the four functions performed on this page:
Clicking the Add New Airplane button on the main form will display the form shown below.
The toolbar functions available on this form are:
Enter the tail number of the airplane and the maximum takeoff weight. Next, enter the empty weight of the airplane and the center of gravity value in either moment or arm. (Note: Moments should be entered as "moment/1000". For instance, a moment value of 10,600 would be entered as "10.6".) Enter the max weight of the fuel station and the moment/arm value.
Next, enter all other weight stations using the fields provided beneath the Fuel station data. Enter the name of the station (i.e., "Front Pax"), the max weight and the moment/arm value, then click the Save button to store the information in the database. You may edit a station by clicking it in the list. The station's values will be shown and you may change them as you need. You may delete a station by highlighting it, then clicking the Delete button.
Once all weight stations have been entered for the airplane, you may enter the graph points for the center of gravity envelope graph by clicking the Graph Points button on the toolbar.
Click OK to save the current data and return to the Main form.
You may edit an airplane by selecting it in the list of airplanes in the Main form and clicking the Properties icon to display the form shown below:
You will notice that this is the same form as that used to add an airplane except that you cannot edit the tail number of the plane. Edit weight station values as necessary by clicking the desired station, changing the values as listed below the Fuel station, and clicking the Save icon. You may delete a station by selecting it then clicking the Delete button. Click the Graph Points button to display the Graph Points form for editing the CG envelope.
Click OK to return to the Main form.
The center of gravity envelope (CG envelope) is defined by a series of x,y coordinates as determined by the weight (horizontal axis) and the moment/arm value (vertical axis). These values are entered using the Graph Points form shown below:
You may edit any existing point by clicking it, changing the values as necessary, then clicking the Save icon.
You may delete a graph point by selecting it, then clicking the Delete icon.
Click the OK button to return to the Weight Stations form.
Once you have entered all graph points, you may preview your CG envelope by clicking the CG Graph button on the toolbar. Review the graph for accuracy and adjust graph points as necessary. (Note: Due to differences in the scale of the PocketPC display, the CG envelope may not appear exactly as it does in your POH. This is normal.)
Click OK to go back to the Graph Points form.
Current weight and balance information is entered using the Weights form as shown below:
All weight stations for the selected airplane will be shown. (Note: If more stations exist than may be shown at one time, a vertical scroll bar will appear on the right side of the form.) The default values are the maximum values entered when creating the weight stations. Change the values to reflect the values for the current flight. As changes are made, the totals will be updated and shown at the bottom of the form. If the current takeoff weight exceeds the indicated maximum takeoff weight, the takeoff weight will be shown in red.
Click OK to return to the Main form.
You may also click the Calculate button on the toolbar to re-calculate the center of gravity using the currently entered values.
Click the Graph button to show the current CG envelope as shown below:
You will notice that the CG envelope will display the current takeoff weight (TOW) and the zero-fuel weight (ZFW). (Note: The display will not resize to accommodate values outside the visible range of the form. This may result in a TOW and/or ZFW point being located beyond the visual area of the form. This is normal and usually indicates a need to modify the weight of the airplane.)
Click OK to return to the Weights form.