RE: Avistar 40 Select RTF CG
Thanks for the replies guys.
I put a small level on the horizontal stab and adjusted the position of the plane so that the stab was level. I then held another, longer level along the chord of the wing at the wingtips. I know this isn't extremely accurate but it appears that at least the wing chord is level with the horiz stab. It looks like there's a couple of degrees of engine downthrust in relation to stab level which I checked by holding a level along the side of the fuse at the center of the prop with the prop in a vertical position and using a protractor sitting on top of the level to measure the angle of the prop from vertical. I know this isn't real accurate either. I'm not sure what the reference line is for measuring wing incidence (or thrust angle for that matter), but with the horiz stab still level, I held a longer level against the side of the fuse with one end at the front of the horizontal stab, and it was level with the needle valve on the engine. This line appeared to be between an inch and an inch and a half above the tip of the spinner. I'd have to do some refresher trigonometry to figure out what that angle would be, but it's a rough estimate anyway.
Cogburn, I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'does it like to fly tail down'. To me, inexperienced as I am, I think it likes to fly nose down since I have to hold lots of up elevator to keep it level. Raising the tail makes for shorter takeoffs? That's very interesting. I would have thought the opposite. I'll have to try that. I did see where somebody recommended a smaller nose wheel for this plane. Learn something new every day. The wing chord is 10 inches.