Flight Characteristics--I am flying my Kyosho Gee Bee Z 40 with a Saito FA-56 (15.5 oz.) for power. The plane flies as if nose heavy. That is, the nose falls out severely in the turns, landing is at 1/2 throttle, and I am flying with full up trim (about 1/8 inch deflection). My battery is against the firewall on the inside. When placed on the GP CG machine, with the contacts at 70 mm behind the leading edge (Manufacturer suggested), upside down for a low wing model, the tail droops as if tail heavy.

I read on this forum that others flying this model with the Saito FA-56 were having to put the battery under the engine on the firewall to achieve the correct CG.. They also commented to land fast, remove and replace the wooden pushrods with plastic to save tail weight and they had balanced the model at 65 mm behind the leading edge. Are their aircraft also nose heavy?

Do I need more nose weight to achieve balance? Do I need more tail weight to counteract the tendency for the nose to fall in the turns and reduce the need for up trim? Do I need to accept that the aircraft will be severely nose heavy? Am I determining the CG incorrectly? Does balanced mean that the aircraft datum line is parallel to the ground?

Thanks for your comments, I am really confused by this one.

Steve