Newbie Pics 97 J

[Don]

After reading the Newbie posts I thought I would add some pics of
the J I bought from Ron ( check the photo area...Don's J). I am
having a GRRRRREAT time flying it Ron. I just got back from a 3 day
trip to the 14th annual Prospect Search and Rescue flyin in Oregon.
There were a lot of people interested in this nimble little single
seater. Yet on the way back I was able to slow down enough to fly
along with a friend of mine in his Quicksilver MX. The Thundergull
truly is the best performing light aircraft made. It has the best
flight caracteristics of both an UL and light cross country plane. I
really enjoy skycamping and this plane was set up for it. It is a J2
frame set up as a single seater with a cargo area with the 24' wing
powered by a 503. It can fly slow for sight seeing and get you there
quick too. In case you can't tell I love this plane!!!!!
Don

[Ron Carroll]

We always like to hear from satisfied customers <G>

All kidding aside, as I told you before you bought it, it truly is a
wonderful performing plane. It is nice to hear that someone agrees with my
claims after they purchased it. I only wish I could make the same claim
about this blankety-blank Kitfox. I've had nothing but problems with it.

The sorry camper,

Ron Carroll
Independence

PS, Don, did you see my request for W&B info for the J-Model? Jim C sent me
a nice Excel spreadsheet for the 2K-Model, but I wonder if you could scan
the W&B sheet for your plane and e-mail it to me??? Please . . .

Rc

[Jim C]

Ron

Did you get the follow-up email with the arms for the J/JT2 - If you
did, just plug those arms in and then all you have to worry about is
the weights.

Jim

[derbaier]

Jim, can a soon to be Gull2K owner beg a copy of your W&B
spreadsheet? It will be a few months before I can use it, but if you
could email a copy to me, I would sure appreciate it!

Thanks,
--Dave

[Jim C]

I'll get it to you in a jiffy

Jim

[Jim C]

Ok Don - Your pics look great - you made me feel guilty so I put a
couple of mine in the photo section as well.

Ron - you've been away long enough - it's time to sell the kitfox and
come back to a Gull.

Jim C

[Ron Carroll]

Yes Jim, I did receive that message. Maybe you can clarify a couple of
things on it for me, ok?

Starting at the top of the form the 2nd line down says: "Total Op Gross Wgt
CG="
Then: "-Wing Leading Edge"
Then: "57.75="
Then: "Allowable Flight Range is 15" to 21""

What does this whole line mean???

Also, what is the location of the 'datum' ?

Thanks, and once I get this info straight in my mind I'll send it off to my
friend.

I'm still hoping that Don will send me a scanned copy of the W&B of his J
for comparison.

Ron Carroll
Independence, Oregon

[Jim C]

> What does this whole line mean???

You are being shown 2 points of measurements on the form. They are
basically telling you the same thing - Where the CG is. One is in
inches from the datum (nose of the plane) and one is from the leading
edge of the wing.

(1) Some people use inches from the datum, (in this case the nose of
the airplane) where the center of balance should be between 72" & 78"
from the datum - You can find this by looking at the Total Operating
Gross Weight Arm (seen at the bottom of the chart when everything is
entered) - On my Gull 2K that is 75.01 (if you are looking at the
sample I sent you)

(2) Some people want to see the measurement of the CG off the
leading edge of the wing. In this case the CG is 15"-21" from the
leading edge of the wing. To get this you have to subtract the
inches from the datum (the nose of the plane) to the leading edge,
which is done for you on the second line. You would need to put the
number of inches from the nose to your leading edge for the J/JT2 in
that slot.

>
> Also, what is the location of the 'datum' ?

The datum I am using is the nose of the airplane - That keeps
everything a positive number and easier to calculate in my opinion.
Mark also uses the nose of the airplane as his datum in the samples
in the manual. Using the leading edge of the wing as a datum means
you need to work positive and negative figures. If you want the CG
off the leading edge of the wing it is just easier to subtract out
the inches from the nose to the wings leading edge, which is all you
see on that line.


> I'm still hoping that Don will send me a scanned copy of the W&B of
his J for comparison.

I'd be curious how close his numbers (for the arms) are to the manual
numbers I have here.

Hope this helps

Jim C

[Ron Carroll]

I'm getting to be a pest, but...

In the second line/group of info you show 57.75. However, in the body of
your letter you say, "You would need to put the number of inches from the
nose to your leading edge for the J/JT2 in that slot."

Does this mean that the 57.75" is not valid for the J, and there must be
some other number put into that location? If this is the case, then it may
be hard to recognize one way or the other what to use or not use.

I'm not trying to be nit-picky, just want to have it clear when I pass it
along.

Ron Carroll
Independence, Oregon

[derbaier]

Got it! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--Dave