I just aquired a used Waco bipe, 72 inch wing span. Where should the balance point be?
Thanks Merril

From the leading edge of both wings at the fuse (guess on the upper wing were the fuse would be) 1/3 back...make a dot, one dot on the top of each wing..now connect the 2 dots with an imaginary line....your CG starting point will be in the middle of the fuselage on that imaginary line

Hey mech, wouldn't it be safer to go with "the middle of the line"?

The fuselage being closer to the lower wing means the center of it would be farther aft on that imaginary line than the center of that line would be. And the 1/3 back deal really only considers the relative location of the two wings and nothing else.

I have a pica waco the cg is 5 1/4" from le on top wing flys great you can gety more info on the vintage forum site hope this helps

happy landings charlie

Thanks Charlie
Merril

Out of curiosity how close would we have been using the 1/3 top 1/3 bottom and the line between the dots have been?

Thats a reasonable method if you make the assumption that 33 1/3 percent Mac is the desired balance point which on that Airplane it is definately not. My 1/6th Pica Waco (the smaller version) flys beautifully at about 27% Mac.

Thanks mech
I got three differnt ways to find the balance from you experts. All three came out at the same location. I flew my Waco today and it was spot on. Thanks guys.
Merril

Merril
Thanx for the feed back....kinda nice to know....when things work out
Good flyin to ya