ORIGINAL: JohnBuckner
Jim you have surmised correctly that the airplane will only be in balance at the point you select if it sits level. The 'support beam' is the main spar. Most airplanes especially trainers will have the spar at the quarter chord (aka 25% mac, mean aerodynamic chord) and this is the ideal position to balance your airplane.
The lead is OK but as others have said sometimes other shifting of components is helpfull. Such as if you do not already have the battery all the way forward behind the firewall and under the fuel tank then I would suggest doing so rather than the lead.
Enjoy your maiden.
John
that plane isnt mine, i do agree that it is tail heavy, all i was stateing was that i wouldnt go farther back then the main/support spar.
so if you are farther back than that dont fly it. (i set up my planes where i read is a good spot on rcu, then add weight for the maiden and remove it as i feel comfortable)
if you really need that much weight, you could buy a ax46/magnum.46/gms.47/ect and you wouldnt need the weight