Wiki143:WikiProject Aircraft/Units
The wikipedia template, Template:Tl converts units between metric and imperial.
The basic format is: {{convert|original_value|original_unit}}.
Units in specification tables and main article text should follow those used by the original manufacturer. Display order defaults to the entered data being displayed first, but this can be changed with "|order=flip" when that isn't appropriate, so that |10|in, which would normally produce Template:Cvt displays as Template:Cvt.
If the original source does include multiple units, the original numbers should be used to avoid adding rounding errors.
By default, the template will convert knots and nautical miles into both metric and imperial units. Editors should include both conversions and should not use the template to intentionally exclude metric or imperial units.
Commas and spaces in the input are ignored. Multiple input values may be entered, separated with |-|, |or|, |and|, |, and|, |by|, |x| or |±|, as needed, so that |7|x|14|cm displays as Template:Cvt, and imperial measurements with two units can be entered as |9|ft|7|in|, which displays as Template:Cvt. Fractions like |2+7/8|in| display as Template:Convert. Output does not otherwise have to be specified as the defaults usually work well.
Output precision is adjusted following the conversion units. For more or less precision, add a negative number to reduce precision or a positive number to increase it. The default usually works well except with weapon and engine dimensions, as different levels of precison are common between imperial and metric, or where the result is too precise for the quality of the original data, which may have already been subject to conversions between imperial and metric, or be approximate.
- {{convert|180.22|knots}} produces Template:Convert.
- {{convert|180.22|knots|0}} produces Template:Convert.
- {{convert|180.22|knots|-1}} produces Template:Convert.
- {{convert|180.22|knots|4}} produces Template:Convert.
Units can be displayed in several formats, with the default being spelled out, but in most cases, the abbreviation is preferable, which is displayed by adding "|abbr=on" as an argument. There is also a short form, Template:Tl which takes the same arguments as convert, but doesn't require the use of an abbr field.
Some commonly used unit abbreviations include:
| Type | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | km/h, m/s | mph, knots, ft/s |
| Altitude & Distance | km, m | nmi, mi, yd, ft |
| Dimensions | m, cm, mm | ft, in |
| Volume | l, m3 | impgal usgal/gal, cuft, cuin |
| Weight | kt, kg, tonne, MT | lb, oz, t, LT ST |
| Area | m2, cm2 | sqft, sqin |
| Power | kW | hp |
| Temperature | C, C-change | F, F-change |
Thrust-to-weight ratio
- thrust to weight calculations are based on loaded weight.
- Non-metric: Thrust and weight are both in pounds. The result is expressed without units.
- Metric: Thrust may be Newtons (N, kN, MN etc) and weight in kg. The result is in kN/kg.