Earthstar Forums

I trudged through a foot and a half of snow to the hanger and checked my elevator cable tentions and checked for slop.There was no play at all.
So I wonder if I am a bit nose heavy? Thus needing a high ground speed to rotate.
What do you think?
Fred

Fred,

The only way that you can be sure that you are not nose heavy is to get out three scales when you get a chance and see if your plane is in the proper CG range. My Gull 2000 sits on it's nose wheel with only 8lbs of scale weight on it, the rest on the mains. If it's parked outside, and a breeze comes up, it invariably winds up on it's tail, so I lower it, or prop it up like the 'J's and Titans. With full fuel (10 gallons), and me (180lbs), it's towards the forward end of the CG range. If you also have the short wing (20') like I do, the speed will be faster too.

kb

Hi Kess
The on paper calculated CG is in range. But who knows what in actual fact the CG really is. Coats of paint and little add ons here and there over the years could have changed things.
I will do the scale thing in the spring.
Thanks
Fred

How does the SKY ARROW get away with sitting on all 3 legs?
I always wondered about that.
Fred

In a message dated 2/9/2011 9:27:55 AM Pacific Standard Time,
gayford@golden.net writes:

The on paper calculated CG is in range. But who knows what in actual fact
the CG really is. Coats of paint and little add ons here and there over the
years could have changed things.
I will do the scale thing in the spring.
Thanks
Fred




Hi Fred
When on a trip and loading the plane I pick up the noes wheel and if it
falls backwards right away with only 5 lb or less static on the noes wheel
when on level ground that it is tail heavy. But I usually load it to 25# or so
with the plane loaded ready for me and my passenger to git in. These are
rule of thumb but workout for me.
Happy Flying
Mark

In a message dated 2/9/2011 9:32:44 AM Pacific Standard Time,
gayford@golden.net writes:

How does the SKY ARROW get away with sitting on all 3 legs?
I always wondered about that.
Fred




The logic of design related to setting on all 3 wheels is that when you git
out there needs to be the right fixed weight left in the plane to allow it
to set on the noes wheel. This can be done by having the battery and other
heavy items permanently mounted in the nose.
Its a mass design management exercise.
Happy flying
Mark

Hi Mark
I have the JT2, any rule of thumb for checking it.
Thanks
Fred

I just checked into the Sky Arrow to see about sitting on all three legs. The mains are way farther back than on our planes, and I would think that would affect rotation speed. However the elevator is way up in the prop blast being a T-tail, so maybe the speeds are normal. Sort of looks like a Gull 2000 on steroids though, and I bet that it costs lotsa dollars.

kb