Maximum Weight To Add To Nose
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Maximum Weight To Add To Nose
I have this ARF that I just put together. With an Irvine 53 you would not believe how tail heavy it is.The planes engine size calls for a 40-52 2 stroke.Don't say anything about a 4 stroke.
I've added the brass prop nut and the battery is far forward as possible.
How much weight do yall feel comfortable adding before saying "Hey,just ain't gonna do that">
I'm having to add a BUNCH.
Help appreciated
Walt
I've added the brass prop nut and the battery is far forward as possible.
How much weight do yall feel comfortable adding before saying "Hey,just ain't gonna do that">
I'm having to add a BUNCH.
Help appreciated
Walt
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RE: Maximum Weight To Add To Nose
i can tell you a story about one i had several years ago it was an altec beech muskteer
it was an arc called for a 120 i had a siato 150 in it put the 2000mah battery on the out side of the firewall the throttle servo was mounted to the motor mount the motor mount was one of the big alunium ones the elevator and rudder servos were near the leading edge of the wing and i still had to add 32 oz of lead to the inside of the firewall it was rediculous.
roy
it was an arc called for a 120 i had a siato 150 in it put the 2000mah battery on the out side of the firewall the throttle servo was mounted to the motor mount the motor mount was one of the big alunium ones the elevator and rudder servos were near the leading edge of the wing and i still had to add 32 oz of lead to the inside of the firewall it was rediculous.
roy
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RE: Maximum Weight To Add To Nose
10 ounces on 40-50 sized plane? Holy Monkey! No, No, No... something terribly wrong here.
In general I say you should NEVER add any weight to a plane. I realize sometimes this isn't always feasible, but that should be your goal. You need to recheck the CG. Verify that there wasn't an error in the manual as to where the CG should be, seen that happen before. Call the company who made the plane to be sure. I wouldn't do anything else until I was 100% sure the CG is really out.
After you verify CG location, if it really is out that far, consider moving everything forward. Move the engine forward, the battery, servo's, replace any push rods rearward of CD with pull-pull, etc. Try to avoid adding weight at all costs. If you still need to add some weight, do it in a temporary manner. Test fly. Remove a little weight... test fly again. Keep doing that until all the added weight is gone or the plane starts to act too tail heavy. CG is not an absolute and there is a wide range where the plane should fly.
Tail heavy is often hard to fix unless you remove something. It has to do with the moments. One oz on the tail may need eight oz on the nose to keep the same CG. See if there is anything on the rear of the plane that can be changed. It may only take 1 or 2 oz removed from the tail to fix the CG problem.
Good luck!
In general I say you should NEVER add any weight to a plane. I realize sometimes this isn't always feasible, but that should be your goal. You need to recheck the CG. Verify that there wasn't an error in the manual as to where the CG should be, seen that happen before. Call the company who made the plane to be sure. I wouldn't do anything else until I was 100% sure the CG is really out.
After you verify CG location, if it really is out that far, consider moving everything forward. Move the engine forward, the battery, servo's, replace any push rods rearward of CD with pull-pull, etc. Try to avoid adding weight at all costs. If you still need to add some weight, do it in a temporary manner. Test fly. Remove a little weight... test fly again. Keep doing that until all the added weight is gone or the plane starts to act too tail heavy. CG is not an absolute and there is a wide range where the plane should fly.
Tail heavy is often hard to fix unless you remove something. It has to do with the moments. One oz on the tail may need eight oz on the nose to keep the same CG. See if there is anything on the rear of the plane that can be changed. It may only take 1 or 2 oz removed from the tail to fix the CG problem.
Good luck!
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RE: Maximum Weight To Add To Nose
Ya 10 oz. on a plane that size is a ton. Ya better look the whole thing over and see what ya can change.
What ARF is it?
I've done as much as 4 oz. and was okay but I still didn't like it.
Sure I've done more just to flight check a plane that was actin stupid but then took it home and started changin stuff.
HEHE one time we gray taped a small set of vise grips over the tank compartment just to get it right.
We just all flew that one till we drilled it! (the vise grips survived)
What ARF is it?
I've done as much as 4 oz. and was okay but I still didn't like it.
Sure I've done more just to flight check a plane that was actin stupid but then took it home and started changin stuff.
HEHE one time we gray taped a small set of vise grips over the tank compartment just to get it right.
We just all flew that one till we drilled it! (the vise grips survived)
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RE: Maximum Weight To Add To Nose
Not a problem, what ever it takes to balance it, it will fly.
A plane will fly well nose heavy but only once tail heavy.
DO NOT FLY IT TAIL HEAVY! (I know)
I had to add 8 oz to a World Spitfire with a Super Tiger 90 in it and the factory said the plane would fly on a 46, no way. That ment I would have had to use alot more lead.
Most people prefer to use a bigger engine than to add dead weight to the nose of a plane. I would rather add horse power than lead any day.
A friend of mine liked to experiment and stuck a big four stroke on a 40 size trainer. Had to add a bunch of lead to the tail to balance but it was balanced. The first time he put the plane into a spin, it stayed there...
A plane will fly well nose heavy but only once tail heavy.
DO NOT FLY IT TAIL HEAVY! (I know)
I had to add 8 oz to a World Spitfire with a Super Tiger 90 in it and the factory said the plane would fly on a 46, no way. That ment I would have had to use alot more lead.
Most people prefer to use a bigger engine than to add dead weight to the nose of a plane. I would rather add horse power than lead any day.
A friend of mine liked to experiment and stuck a big four stroke on a 40 size trainer. Had to add a bunch of lead to the tail to balance but it was balanced. The first time he put the plane into a spin, it stayed there...
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RE: Maximum Weight To Add To Nose
ORIGINAL: aimmaintenance
Ya 10 oz. on a plane that size is a ton. Ya better look the whole thing over and see what ya can change.
What ARF is it?
I've done as much as 4 oz. and was okay but I still didn't like it.
Sure I've done more just to flight check a plane that was actin stupid but then took it home and started changin stuff.
HEHE one time we gray taped a small set of vise grips over the tank compartment just to get it right.
We just all flew that one till we drilled it! (the vise grips survived)
Ya 10 oz. on a plane that size is a ton. Ya better look the whole thing over and see what ya can change.
What ARF is it?
I've done as much as 4 oz. and was okay but I still didn't like it.
Sure I've done more just to flight check a plane that was actin stupid but then took it home and started changin stuff.
HEHE one time we gray taped a small set of vise grips over the tank compartment just to get it right.
We just all flew that one till we drilled it! (the vise grips survived)
Without the weight, it balanced at 50% chord.. Even with the weight, it would stay if you pushed the tail down.