Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Michael Conkling"
Figured I'd share my results of the weight and balance for my plane for the archives.This way new builders can decide which engine and fuse length to selectfor their "body weight".I built the long fuselage 99.9% to the print (piano hinges on the aileronsinstead of the barn door hinges), but basically no other changes. Using a ContinentalA-65 with the mount to the print, except extending the engine forward1 3/4" to guestimate the W/B for my weight.covered with 1.7 oz dacron with Poly fiber system to the manual.The figures came in where I had to move the wing back 3" from vertical struts ,toget "worst case W/B" to work. Would have thought that with extending themount, that would have covered it. I have a 14 gal nose tank, and also the original tank in the wing that holds 10gals.Can't imagine where the wing would be if I didn't have the nose tank. When building, I thought the nose tank would be a problem,,,turned out to be abig help.The worst things that I have to do is make new "angled struts for the front tothe engine mount" and new cowlings where the cross cabling goes through.Oh WellwaltNX140DL(north NJ)________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Kip & Beth Gardner
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: weight and balance results for NX140DLIn a message dated 9/23/02 6:50:54 PM Central Daylight Time, wbeevans(at)worldnet.att.net writes:>Walter, how far behind the leading edge is your empty weight C.G.? Gross weight C.G.? Zero fuel with Pilot C.G.?Chuck GantzerWichita KSNX770CG14 hrs logged________________________________________________________________________________Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 09:03:39 -0400

Original Posted By:
Chuck,First let me say that these figures are very close, but not the finalnumbers. I found myself doing some of the final assy to the instrumentpanel, and I kept thinking that if my CG is way off and have to move thewing, all this has to come apart.So I set up to do a "rough" weight and balance. This was not with everysheet metal screw in place, but is was done with all cowlings in place orfigured in. I figure the final W/B won't increase 10# max. and that willbe in the cockpit area which won't change C'G much.Here they are after moving wing to final position,,,,,1. Empty weight CG= 10.4" aft of leading edge.2. Gross weight CG= 18.3" aft of leading edge3. Low fuel (4 gals) and pilot only= 19.4" aft of leading edgewaltNX140DL----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Doc Mosher

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: weight and balance results for NX140DLIn a message dated 9/24/02 7:11:32 PM Central Daylight Time, wbeevans(at)worldnet.att.net writes:>Walt, those numbers look pretty good. Ya just gotta be careful of that aft limit of 20", or 1/3 of the chord. This is the aft limit that B.H.P. called out. It is further aft than any other plane I've ever heard of, probably because of the pitching moment of the undercambered airfoil.Chuck________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 09:24:23 -0400

Original Posted By: "Oscar Zuniga"
Walt,Looking at my Pietenpol weight and balance document, I find mynumbers very close to yours:EWCG location is 10.5 inches aft of datum and with minimum fuel(22 lb.) in the nose tank, a 200 lb. pilot plus a 200 lb. passenger, theCG is located 18.9 inches aft of datum (wing L.E.). My wing is po-sitioned approximately 3 inches aft of the plans location.These figures are with a C85 - 8 engine and a wooden propeller. Currently, I have a C85 - 12 (sans electrics) installed. It is slightly heavier than the -8 engine, moving the CG a little bit forward --- which is good. The C85 gives a reserve of power so that I can trim longitudinally in flight merely by adjusting the power. As fuel is burned off the power is reduced to maintain trim.I agree with Mike C. regarding the advantages of the nose tank overthe wing tank, but an auxiliary tank in the center section holding an extra hour of fuel would be nice --- except my personal enduranceis already exceeded by that of the airplane. The nose tank holdsabout 14 US gallons which is sufficient for short trips and local flying. As Mike says, you should be OK with these numbers provided loadsdon't change too much.Cheers,Graham Hansen (Pietenpol CF-AUN)________________________________________________________________________________