My KR was out of the CG range until I sat in the seat which brought it to
within the CG. range. ?I always kelp a little weight to throw in the back to
help with CG.
From: Mark Langford via KRnet <krnet at list.krnet.org>
To: KRnet <krnet at list.krnet.org>
Cc: ml at n56ml.com
Sent: Monday, April 4, 2016 1:43 PM
Subject: Re: KR> weight and balance
Chris Prata wrote:
>If 35% aft from the leading edge (at mean average chord point) is too far aft,
>what is the commonly accepted safe limit and where in your experience does she
>fly best?
There's some ambiguity there, as the plans call for 8"-16" from the
leading edge of the stub wing, and the range is quoted as 15%-35%, and
20% of 48" is 7.6", so the numbers don't jive. But let's say take 2" off
of the 16" for simplicity and call it 8" to 14" for an "amended" CG
range, then check the max forward loaded condition (lightest pilot and
full/empty fuel, depending on where your tanks are).? Then calculate
worst case with heavy passengers and aft-most fuel situation? and make
sure you're nowhere near the aft end of the range, adjusting as
necessary to get that range situated toward the middle, or biased toward
the front.? Generally speaking the further aft the CG is, the less
stable it will be.? There are few downsides to a forward CG, being able
to lift the nosewheeel for rotation being one, and having to crank in
some nose up trim (extra drag being the other.? The downside to too far
aft is that the plane is a handful to fly, or, it kills you shortly
after takeoff!
N56ML is slightly forward in the condition that I usually fly it in,
with half fuel, me as pilot, and the usual 20 lbs of crap I carry
(tools, spare radio, camera, etc) sitting on the seat.? I've put some
pretty heavy people in there and it gets a little light on the stick,
but not dangerous, and most people that've flown my plane would call it
quite reasonable.?
N891JF was set up by Jim Faughn to be right on the forward end of the
range with full fuel and him as pilot.? Needless to say, on my first
flight, I took off with neutral trim and flew it up to cruise altitude
that way.? Then I started checking control reactions and when I let go
of the stick it immediately nose dived!? That's the downside...it needs
trim cranked in.? That won't kill you though.? I have since added a few
things aft (flap, backup battery, APRS, ELT), so it's a little more aft,
and I noticed yesterday that my previous landing after a long cruise
back home, the trim tab was level with the elevator, so I'm flying it
"typically" with no up or down trim now, and it's quite fine...but the
heaviest person I've carried is my 100 pound daughter!
See http://www.n56ml.com/wb/index.html for more on what happens if you
go too far aft.? Been there, done that, and don't want to repeat it!
Mark Langford, Harvest, AL
ML "at" N56ML.com
www.N56ML.com
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