How do I need to set it? Do I want it slightly tail heavy? Slightly nose heavy? Dead level? Also...do I want the fuel tank full or empty?

thanks

level to slightly nose.... but try for level...

and tank empty

What exeter has said. You want the plane to balance level to a little bit nose down. But you don't want it tail heavy at all. There's a saying about planes that goes "A nose heavy plane flies poorly, a tail heavy plane flies once!!" For the beginning pilot you want to avoid tail heavy at all costs.

You balance the plane with the fuel tank empty

Ken

Check your manual. For most trainers today, a good rule of thumb is to set the center of gravity so the plane sits level or very slightly nose down with the plane balanced on the wing spar. Slightly nose heavy will make the plane more stable. As you advance, you'll find that the nose heavy condition may require more up elevator as you slow down, which puts you closer to the stall condition, but the trainer airfoils tend to be pretty forgiving.

NEVER fly tail-heavy. (I know, some 3D aerobats like to be tail heavy to improve the hovering, but this is the beginners forum). A tail heavy plane is inherently unstable. The plane will want to correct itself to the point where the center of gravity is in front of the center of lift. That means the plane wants to flip backwards. Every elevator input will be magnified, and the plane will abruptly tip up or down with no input.

If the fuel tank is in front of the desired balance point, as it is with nearly all planes these days, balance it with the tank EMPTY. That way as the tank drains, the plane becomes less nose heavy, but will not become tail heavy.

Good luck, and have your instructor check out the plane before you fly (HINT HINT HINT).

Brad

Ken: Have you ever used one of those gizmo's that check the CG? The stand with the hard points to set the plane on?

I've always used my fingers on the point under or on top of the fuselage. Works out ok. That's what they all use at the field.. the finger method, but I would think that the stand gizmo is the real way to go.

DS.

CGretired,
I have one of the GP Balance Machines and I really like it. I think that it is worth the money. The nice thing is that when the plane is on the balance you have your hands free to hold the plane, add weight, shift the plane, or whatever else needs to be done. Plus, when I get the plane balanced I leave it sitting there for a few minutes just to be sure. It's actually one of the tools that GP sells that is worth the money. You can balance on you fingers (I still do that at the field all the time) but the machine makes it a lot easier.

Hope this helps

Ken