ORIGINAL: rhklenke
Keith,
The only reason I am debating with you on the flaps issue is that the manual implies that the aircraft will nose UP with flap deployment and requires nose DOWN trim. This is normal for most of the jets I have flown, both my own and the ones I've flown for NASA. I am glad you've seen the same thing as I with your Flash (nose DOWN with flaps requiring nose UP trim), but I wonder why the manual is wrong...
If its OK, I'll send you a PM for the spreadsheet. The guys I work with at NASA also use the weight-on-wheels method to calculate CG and I know its more accurate. I'll get the weight on each wheel of the Flash after I break it out, remove some nose weight, and assemble it again. That probably won't be for a couple of days as I have some chores to do and have to get back to work soon...
Thanks!
Bob
Sent you the spreadsheet. If you have questions, let me know. It would be best to get an intial reading on weights before you make any changes, just so we have a baseline history to gauge the impact of changes. The spreadsheet will actually tell you how much weight you need to remove to achieve either the factory or my balance point once you enter the initial data.