nose heavy
 

Just completed a hanger 9 ultra stick 60 ,when i balanced it at the 4 1/8 mark it is very nose heavy. I can balance it at about 3 1/2 mark and add 4 of the small weights and it levels out ,where it takes about 10 of the small weights to balance at the 4 1/8 mark. I cut a small hatch in the rear of the fuselodge and installed the battery all the way to the back. I have a os75ax mounted on the the plane and i do have a little room to slide it back on the mount should i go ahead and balance it at the 4 1/8 mark and use all that weight or try something else?

RE: nose heavy
 

I would move the engine back and balance it at 4 1/8 no matter how much weight it takes

RE: nose heavy
 

is there any danger or limit of moving it back too much?

RE: nose heavy
 

If the nose is heavy, that moves the CG forward. The plane will be sluggish in maneuvers and you may find it difficult to slow down for landing. The more forward the CG, the more noticeable this will be.

As you move the CG aft, the plane will fly better, be more maneuverable and slow down better for landing - but only to a point. If you go too far back, the plane will become radically unstable.

Think of a dart. Heavy nose, and a broad, light-weight tail. Throw a dart and it goes nose-first. Now remove the weighted nose and make the feathers out of lead. When you throw the dart now, it will flip around and go tail first toward the target.

Same thing with a tail-heavy plane. The tail wants to lead the way. You can easily find yourself making a nice gradual turn and suddenly the plane snaps and you're in the ground before you ever knew what happened.

RE: nose heavy
 

I helped a fellow flyer with his u-stick and we moved the el and rud servo to the rear of the plane to balance. This is pretty standard with those sticks. Easy to do and you don't need the dead weight.

RE: nose heavy
 

ive moved the engine back on the mount ,the front engine holes are in the previously rear drilled mount holes and nothing seems to be rubbing or hitting and the muffler fits ok . The directions say to mount the engine 5 to 5 1/4 from firewall to thrust washer when i move it back to this position its about 4 1/16 from firewall to thrust washer will this be any kind of problem?

RE: nose heavy
 

No problem

RE: nose heavy
 

I moved the engine back on the mount and now it will atleast balance at 4 1/8 but it takes 10 of the weights to get it there! Does that sound like alot of weight? I would rather not move the servos!

RE: nose heavy
 

It seems like all sticks are nose heavy. I have two, both are Great Planes 40&60 size. I had to add between six and eight oz. of lead to the tail to bring them into balance. Both of these planes fly great and don,t seem to mind the lead in the rear. I just installed a radial engine in my 60 size and now were talking nose heavy. I had to install the reciever battery in the tail and the on board glow driver battery behind the wing. When ever possible try to move batteries, reciever, ect. to make the plane balance. I find adding lead such a non procuctive move.

RE: nose heavy
 

That may sound like a lot of weight, but you've got a BIG engine in there.

You are better off adding the weight and flying a balanced plane than flying a nose-heavy plane

RE: nose heavy
 

By all means.

RE: nose heavy
 

1. You might consider using a bigger battery. If you gotta add weight might as well be useful.
2. Consider adding tail wires. Again, useful weight and that's pretty far back.
3. Use a bigger tail wheel if it's a dragger.
4. Move 1 or more of the servo's to the rear of the plane on the outside with a shorter link.

I would fly it at least once before making radical changes. Make sure you key in lots of elevator movement. Good luck

RE: nose heavy
 

Thanks for all the help everyone i have it balanced now!