I know. For passenger/cargo aircraft, it refers to the passenger + cargo loading. For launch vehicles it refers to what is being carried to orbit. For military systems, it is actually more common (and more proper) to refer to it as "bomb load" (bombers) or "warhead" (missiles).
Oh, I'd only ever heard the word in the context of dropping bombs or napalm or whatever.
"Unleashing its payload."
I know. For passenger/cargo aircraft, it refers to the passenger + cargo loading. For launch vehicles it refers to what is being carried to orbit. For military systems, it is actually more common (and more proper) to refer to it as "bomb load" (bombers) or "warhead" (missiles).