Template:Aircraft specifications/doc

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Usage
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Aircraft specifications
Editors beware: formatting of code to make it "look nice" is very likely to inadvertently introduce leading and trailing blank lines into the template output.

This template has provisions for four sections: General characteristics, performance, armament, and avionics. What follows is list of the parameters that appear in each section, and specialised instructions for their use where necessary.

Most numerical quantities are divided into 'main' and 'alt'. For example, the quantity 'empty weight' is specified by the parameters and. The choice of which is the given first will depend on origin and period. A U.S. aircraft would have U.S. System of customary units given first (in the example of weight 'main' would be given in pounds (lb), and the value for 'alt' in kilograms (kg). Other aircraft are measured using the metric system, so they will have kg for 'main' and lb for 'alt'. Prior to the adoption of metric units, British aircraft used Imperial units, and RAF aircraft used mph until after WWII while Fleet Air Arm aircraft used knots.

Because of the ParserFunctions this template uses, all values will automatically appear in the article once they have been specified. For example, if I specify, the text will automatically appear in the article.
 * Wing area: 1,000 ft2 (93 m2)

In the following instructions, parameters are referred to thus:. When indicating which values should be entered for each parameter, the notation  will be used.

Non-specifications parameters
The template uses three paramters that are not directly related to the specs:, , and. The first two control template output; the last one provides citation information.
 * If the aircraft is a rotorcraft (including helicopters, gyrodynes, tiltrotors, etc.), the value for this parameter should be .  If it is a fixed wing aircraft, the value should be specified as.
 * For planes that are powered by jet engines or rockets, specify . For those powered by propellers, specify  .  Occasionally, aircraft have both jet engines and propellers; for these, specify  .  Unpowered aircraft such as gliders should be denoted by.
 * Used to cite the sources for the specifications section. Example:  .  See Citation templates for information on the citation templates available and how to use them.

General characteristics
|capacity=
 * The number of people required to operate the aircraft. If you wish to specify the roles played by each crew member, do so in something similar to the following format:
 * The number of passengers the aircraft can carry if the plane is commercial. For general aviation aircraft, this should usually be specified x number of passengers:   and can include crew.  Most military transports can be used for patients.  In this case, something similar to the system used for the C-130 Hercules may be in order:
 * 92 passengers or
 * 64 airborne troops or
 * 74 litter patients with 2 medical personnel
 * ,, :Specifies the amount of cargo that can be carried by an aircraft. For 'main' and 'alt', specify the weight of the payload.  If applicable, use  to specify the type of payload usually carried, such as fertiliser for agricultural aircraft or mail for mailplanes.
 * , :The length of the aircraft from nose to tail. For helicopters, this means the length of the fuselage without taking the rotor into consideration.
 * , :The wingspan of fixed wing aircraft, or the main rotor diameter for rotorcraft.
 * , :The area of the wing of a fixed wing aircraft, or the total area of all main rotors for rotorcraft (does not include maneuvering rotors).
 * For fixed wing aircraft, the type of airfoil the wing uses. Eg, see NACA airfoil for information on airfoil types.
 * aspect ratio: for fixed wing aircraft, the aspect ratio of the wing - a parameter generally of interest in gliders (sailplanes)
 * , :The weight of the aircraft when unloaded—no crew, passengers, cargo, or fuel.
 * , :The weight of the aircraft when loaded for a 'typical' mission. This statistic is cited for almost any aircraft, but it is relatively arbitrary, so only use statistics given in sources.
 * , :The difference between the aircraft's maximum weight and empty weight.
 * ,, :The heaviest the aircraft can be and still get off the ground.
 * A place to put anything relevant not included already under the general parameters eg "Fuel Capacity: 500 gallons"
 * A place to put anything relevant not included already under the general parameters eg "Fuel Capacity: 500 gallons"

Engines
If there is any information that needs to be added after the engine specs, it should be added using the parameter. eg.

Propeller driven aircraft

 * The number of engines that drive the propellers. For fixed wing aircraft, this is usually—but not always—the same as the number of propellers.
 * The model of engine the aircraft uses. Example:.
 * The configuration of the engine. Examples: ,  ,.
 * , :The power output of the engine.
 * For some engines the power output may have been originally measured in an unconventional unit. For example, older German engines originally had their power measured in Pferdestärke (PS).  Sample usage of this parameter:
 * More information on the power rating, such as the rpm of the engine.

Jet aircraft

 * The number of jet engines or rockets the aircraft has.
 * The model of jet or rocket used by the aircraft
 * The configuration of jet, such as turbojet, turbofan, thermojet, rocket, etc.
 * , :Thrust of the engine with afterburner, if applicable.
 * , :The thrust of the engine; if the engine has afterburners, this parameter denotes dry thrust.
 * , :Some engines had their original measurements taken in unconventional units. For example, many Russian and Soviet engines were originally rated using kilogram-force.

Propeller model and configuration

 * If it is a propeller on a fixed wing aircraft, specify .  If it is a rotor on a helicopter or other rotary wing aircraft, specify.
 * The model and configuration of the propellers. Example:.
 * With some aircraft, multiple propellers will be driven off one engine. Use this parameter to specify the number per engine.
 * , :Used to indicate the diameter of the propellers. For helicopters, the rotor diameter was already specified using the  parameter.

Performance
The available parameter fields are: Their use is fairly obvious.




 * (displays only when there is a value for max speed alt )
 * (displays only when there is a value for max speed alt )
 * (displays only when there is a value for max speed alt )
















 * (patrol aircraft and older aircraft may have this instead of range)











Armament
You can use  followed by a bulletted list of the armaments, or omit that line entirely and use the following specific parameters. If you include the line  at all&mdash;even with an empty value&mdash;then none of the following parameters will have any effect.

to specify the number of hardpoints to specify the capacity of hardpoints eg as total payload and to specify the types of hardpoint weapons

Avionics
Will be added later