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Re:Belgian startup Magnax has found a way to mass-produce th... by Filligree on Tuesday October 01, 2019 @09:28AM (#21125069)
I hope to hear actual pilots chiming in, but from first principles:

It shouldn't be a large factor. Drag is independent of mass, and while lifting the fuel to cruising altitude takes energy, most of the flight should ideally be cruising.

The rocket equation doesn't apply; that's for an entirely different regime.

Re:Belgian startup Magnax has found a way to mass-produce th... by skykooler on Tuesday October 01, 2019 @10:09AM (#21125469)
While drag is "independent" of mass, the lift required to maintain level flight is affected by weight, and drag is affected by lift. A heavier airplane will absolutely require more power to cruise.