a friend of mine picked up an 84" hots with a ST 2500. we need to find the correct balance. I test flew it for him and it was a bag of cats, got it down in 1 piece. we did the finger tips on the wing tips where he guessed at it seemed a little nose heavy, but when I flew it is flew like it was tail heavy.

does anyone have a set of plans that show the CG range for this aircraft?

Mark

Mark,

I've built about 4 Hots and as it has a "hershey bar" wing, the balance point for it, and any other wing like it falls in the 28 to 33 percent range. Measure the chord (leading edge to trailing edge, minus the ailerons) and then balance it 28 percent back from the leading edge and you are in the appropriate range. Elevator throw should be around 25 degrees up and down. Remember, the further back the balance, the more power the leverage of the elevator. Ailerons and rudder are not affected by balance point, only the elevator.

One Hots I had balanced at 35 percent. It had 3/32nds throw for full up elevator and it would do a 10 foot loop. Rearward balance makes a plane more pitch sensitive, but on the plus side, a rear balance lands a LOT slower.

Experiment, and adjust as necessary. Every plane I have required many test flights to trim out. Take your time to adjust to your taste and you will have a pleasant flying aircraft. "Good Enough" usually means someone doesn't want to take the time to trim and adjust. Hang around with some guys who fly pattern; they trim their planes constantly and the result is a better performing aircraft.

There's the RIGHT way and the EASY way. Avoid the EASY way and get a better flying aircraft. Good luck!