Posted on 06/21/2006 8:45:38 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
Safety and fuel. For what is worth, the "limit" is somewhere around 750,000 lbs total weight...that's quite a bit, if you ask me.
No, it's an airframe stress thing. Max loads put more stress on the airframe, lowering the number of hours it will last. In peacetime you want your investment in equipment to last as long as possible. In wartime, of course, you're willing do what is necessary to get the mission done.
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