ORIGINAL: kochj
ORIGINAL: sbrackets
Not sure about the plane being nose heavy right yet. Because I measured the C.G at 5.5'' back from the leading edge of the fiberglass fairing edge at the wing joint where the balsa wing joins the fuselage. And the plane sat level on the (Great planes)balancer device. I added 15oz. of lead to the nose.
The only thing that makes me think that it is nose heavy is that 3/4'' up elevator was marginal for take off and did not leave me with a good feeling for landing. I was thinking the whole time during my flight that I wasn't going to have enough elevator to pull out of a steep decent on a landing approach.
Once airborn the plane needed a lot of up elevator to fly straight and level. I did manage to trim her out for level flight but noticed after landing that my elevator with the transmitter stick in the neutral position, the elevator was now is sitting with about 2-3 degrees of up elevator. So thats how she is flying at straight and level flight.
Does this sound like it's nose heavy to you all? I guess it is, but she balances out perfect straight at 5.5'' C.G. You got me!
I know a way to find out if she is nose heavy is to fly upside down to see how the nose reacts then. But on the maiden flight I was just trying to keep her in the air and trim her out, Not doing anything nothing fancy.
Jim
Jim....
I have the Great planes balancer...and I would SWEAR that when I balanced my planes SPOT ON in the MIDDle of the recomended range....It was ALWAYS nose heavy....
One of the planes was soo nose heavy, when I landed the prop struck the ground because it squashed the main gear apon landing...as I ran out of elevator on a 3D plane!!!!....hmmm..
I will be adding all I can get out of the elevator for my 3rd rate...or 3D rate...(in earobatic plane) when I do the Test flight....
Perhaps it is the balancer??
It's impossible for the balancer to cause any type of imbalance. The only thing that can is incorrect measuring or positioning. Also, remember, in a fuel powered airplane, you are balancing with an empty tank, and flying with a full to empty tank. IE, the first take-off is done in a nose heavy condition, as well as any landings done while there is still an appreciative amount of fuel in tank. Use an oversize tank, larger than originally designed for, and you have extra built in nose heavyness.
The designed balance point is, in most cases, very close to the break point when empty. However, some designers actually put the point safely forward to keep the number of "uncontrollable design" comments on the low side, since those are "usually" from inexperienced fliers.
If you find a particular aircraft seems nose heavy AFTER the first flight, move it back a little at a time. But don't try it on the maiden. (My experienced suggestion, not a written in stone, do it or die rule.)