Torquemaster.. welcome to my world!! You are where I was a week or so ago.. TAIL HEAVY.. it sucks don't it!


I made 10 flights the past week and weekend. It still was not super happy with the CG at 5.5 I still had an oversensitive elevator in patterns even on reduced rates. I decided it needed to be at 5" to fly the way I wanted it to so
I got pissed and did some major surgery this week. I am VERY VERY HAPPY I did it. I got my weight down to just over 16 pounds and flew it today...... ABSOLUTELY A DIFFERENT PLANE. CG is at 5.00 inches and that by far is where it needs to be. I can fly IMAC patterns and still do great 3D and stability was flawless for a plane this size.

I made some sacrifices in the battery and some of my paranoia redundancy stuff.. but drastic problems require drastic actions.

Here is what I have done:

TAIL:
I installed a .625 Diameter stab tube and new sleeves savings - 2.2 oz
Intalled a Graphtech CF SMALL tail gear and light foam wheel savings 1oz looks goofy because it is very small... but who cares.
Fabricated an 8/32 threaded carbon fiber rod set for the "bolts" of my DuBro HD horn sets savings 1.5 oz
Ripped the covering off around the tail gear and hogged out a good amount of that 3/8 thick gear plate... savings .4 oz
Cored a few 1/2 holes in the butt end of the tail section .. savings .4 oz
Removed the vinyl decals completely from the tail .. savings - .2 oz

Total weight removed from tail - approx 5.7 oz With a moment of nearly 5:1 that equates to at least 20 oz at the nose


FORWARD OF CG:
Installed a CF wing tube and CF Main Gear - savings 7 oz
1" cored the bottom of the engine box - savings 1 oz
I left the rudder pull-pull as is.
Swapped out the wheel pants for some ultra light weight Columbo Andersons - savings 3 oz
Changed the fuel tank to 16 oz
Cut out the entire bottom of the cowl .. savings 2.2 oz
Ditched my fuel tank shelf that I installed and simply velcrod in the tank.. savings 3 oz

Changed over to a 1800 Mah Li-Ion Duralite "dual pack" and a single Fail Safe regulator savings - 6.6 oz

Total weight shaved = 22.8 oz

Weight before surgery = 17 pounds 8 oz
Weight after surgery = 16 pounds 1 oz.

I am debating whether to re-install the second battery with that installed the weight would be 16.45 pounds... still respectable.

I could tell it was a different plane within the first 2 seconds after it lifted off.

If you have the time or the wherewithall to spend the cash and take the time.. it is worth it. I really had fun today.. I mean this plane flies incredibly well now, better than I expected for a plane this size. I still have some trimming to get done (thrust, etc) but what an awesome plane!!

NOW I am finally smiling. Wish I did this first though. I feel like I built 3 planes already with the work and rework, etc.. !

DP