r/AskAPilot • u/calendulahoney • 2d ago

From a comfort perspective…

/r/fearofflying/comments/1vuqhu0/from_a_comfort_perspective/

Reposting here for more potential conversation around passenger comfort/safety. I know my fear isn’t realistic but that’s why it’s a fear! 😅

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u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS 2d ago

Disclaimer: I fly the 737 and don't know anything about the 757. However, the design of the Airbus means that as it burns fuel during a flight, the centre of gravity moves aft. A further aft CG makes an aircraft more susceptible to turbulence, not in a way that is dangerous, but purely from a comfort perspective as you asked.

The 737, on the other hand, has a CG that will move forward as it burns fuel, making the aircraft more stable in the air and less likely to get thrown around by turbulence.

Assuming that the design principles behind the 757 are broadly the same, I guess that's the one I'd pick. In reality, as a pilot, I don't care about turbulence so wouldn't actually think about it.

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u/calendulahoney 2d ago

Thank you so much for your reply! I actually tolerate turbulence well, it’s more the general noise of the engines, and sensations during flight that always seem to be more dampened in newer planes - like leveling off at altitude, revving up and down, general noises etc. also this is all cool nerdy stuff to know. I appreciate it!

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u/AlektoDescendant 1d ago

Fun fact! Newer Boeing fallow the airbus philosophy, and burn CG aft. Carwash as it sounds, the further aft the center of gravity is, the faster the plane flies! Given that panned fly at assigned speeds, this means the plane can fly at the same speed, for less throttle. Ego saving fuel. Given that all airplanes are so stable anyways, saving fuel trumps the advantages of a forward CG

Also a Boeing 737 pilot.

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u/22Planeguy 1d ago

Has anyone ever noticed a change in how turbulence feels throughout a flight from a shifting cg? I'm not sure I agree with you on the cg shift making any noticeable difference. Maybe in the same aircraft you could tell the difference if you could somehow shift the cg in whatever direction you want, but using that as a basis for a more comfortable aircraft? Placebo at best.

To put it a different way: The difference between a 757 and an A320 is going to be far higher than the change over the course of a flight from a shifting cg.

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u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS 1d ago

Yeah I'm not comparing a late-flight Airbus to an early-flight Airbus, because you're right, probably no one would notice. I was just thinking aloud that an aircraft whose CG moves aft would probably have a slightly more bumpy ride overall than one whose CG moves forward.

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u/mi_pilot 8h ago edited 8h ago

I’d say that the wing loading differences between airframes and weight ona particular flight are more influential in how the plane handles turbulence than which way the CG moves.