From post #15: Payload with Full Fuel 2,831 Maximum Payload 5,456
The way I read it, compensating for the extra weight would have required putting the fuel load well into the negative range. Am I reading the numbers wrong?
Aircraft are routinely flown over “gross”. In colder climates, 10% over the book figure is considered normal and approved.
The gross weight rating is puplished partly because of structural concerns, but more for airspeed operating envelope, and safe operations in an engine out situation for multi engine airplanes.
Adjust rotation speed, and climb speed, and it will fly. That aircraft probably still climbed in excess of 1,000fpm at sea level with that load. Lose an engine, though, and it is a different story.
As a side note, many of the military aircraft have published operation speeds for various MTOWs. Esentially, adjustable max gross weight ratings.