Final answer:
The standard weight for gasoline used in aircraft weight and balance computations is approximately 6 pounds per gallon or 0.72 kilograms per liter. This standard is crucial for ensuring accurate calculations and safe aircraft operation, as illustrated by the Gimli Glider incident.
Step-by-step explanation:
For weight and balance computations in aviation, it's essential to use standard weights for all components of the aircraft, including fuel. For gasoline, the standard weight that has been established for these calculations is approximately 6 pounds per gallon or about 0.72 kilograms per liter. This standard is critical for ensuring accurate fuel load calculations and the safe operation of aircraft.
An infamous incident that highlights the importance of accurate weight and balance computations is the Gimli Glider incident. A metric conversion error occurred during fueling because the ground crew was accustomed to the English system of units. The error led to an insufficient amount of fuel being loaded, resulting in the engines failing mid-flight due to fuel starvation. This incident underscores how critical it is to strictly adhere to the standard weights and measurements in aviation to avoid potentially severe mishaps.
When considering alternatives to fossil fuels like gasoline, for example, lithium-ion batteries as energy sources, it is clear that gasoline's high energy density—at approximately 11 kcal/g—allows for much more efficient storage of energy. This energy density is crucial for long-range flight capabilities in aircraft such as the Boeing 737. The comparison between batteries and gasoline clearly shows that for now, gasoline remains the superior choice for long-distance air travel in terms of weight efficiency and balance.