Pietenpol-List: rear cockpit solo
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:32 pm
Original Posted By: Rcaprd(at)aol.com
Howdy, folks;Working through the weight & balance on 41CC and looking at extreme forward and rearward C of G conditions in the spreadsheet (thanks, Bert and Nancy Conoly!), I've noticed a couple of things.1. There doesn't appear to be any loading that will bring the plane to max gross without shifting out of the aft C of G allowable range. This is good insofar as it will be nearly impossible to overload the airplane, but does indicate some care is required to keep the aft C of G in range. With 170 lb. pilot and 210 lb. passenger, minimum fuel (2 gal.), and min. oil, it's at maximum aft limit but still 183 lbs. under gross. I've shifted loads around (in the spreadsheet) and this seems to be worst aft C of G case that will still allow me to approach max. gross. Obviously, I can go up on the passenger weight, but as an example- at my present weight of 150 lbs., the spreadsheet says I can fit a 413 lb. passenger in the airplane and be at gross and within aft C of G limit. Problem is, you can't physically shoehorn a 413 lb. person into the passenger cockpit.2. Again checking aft C of G, at a "running on fumes" condition of minimum fuel and oil, the aft C of G is exceeded with a pilot any heavier than 175 lbs. unless there is a passenger aboard. This presents some operating limitations that have to be respected as well, such as at the end of a long 3. Checking maximum forward limit, with a full tank of fuel (16 gal.) and full oil, I need a minimum of a 107 lb. pilot to bring the C of G back to the forward limit. This would mean that the aircraft should be placarded "rear seat solo only" and should also have some sort of minimum pilot weight allowed when flying solo.Now, it would hardly make sense to try to solo the plane from the front hole anyway, since there are no instruments and no carb heat control up there. But just the same-! And as far as a minimum pilot weight, it is conceivable that a youngster, or a slightly built man or woman, might be too light to operate this aircraft within its forward C of G limit with full fuel. This would mean possibly running out of elevator in the flare or rotation... and a hard landing or an extended takeoff run.Anybody come up with similar loading cases in their W&B's? Mind you, the airplane still needs an official re-W&B after the rebuild is complete, but I'm looking at what-ifs. I guess if I forget all the mother hen stuff, this airplane can really handle a wide range of loading conditions and can safely carry a pilot and passenger, but there are some conditions to watch for. And I think I may just add a "rear seat solo only" placard to that lonely, bare front panel. Does anyone else have theirs placarded that way (not you Sky Scout guys)?Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________
Howdy, folks;Working through the weight & balance on 41CC and looking at extreme forward and rearward C of G conditions in the spreadsheet (thanks, Bert and Nancy Conoly!), I've noticed a couple of things.1. There doesn't appear to be any loading that will bring the plane to max gross without shifting out of the aft C of G allowable range. This is good insofar as it will be nearly impossible to overload the airplane, but does indicate some care is required to keep the aft C of G in range. With 170 lb. pilot and 210 lb. passenger, minimum fuel (2 gal.), and min. oil, it's at maximum aft limit but still 183 lbs. under gross. I've shifted loads around (in the spreadsheet) and this seems to be worst aft C of G case that will still allow me to approach max. gross. Obviously, I can go up on the passenger weight, but as an example- at my present weight of 150 lbs., the spreadsheet says I can fit a 413 lb. passenger in the airplane and be at gross and within aft C of G limit. Problem is, you can't physically shoehorn a 413 lb. person into the passenger cockpit.2. Again checking aft C of G, at a "running on fumes" condition of minimum fuel and oil, the aft C of G is exceeded with a pilot any heavier than 175 lbs. unless there is a passenger aboard. This presents some operating limitations that have to be respected as well, such as at the end of a long 3. Checking maximum forward limit, with a full tank of fuel (16 gal.) and full oil, I need a minimum of a 107 lb. pilot to bring the C of G back to the forward limit. This would mean that the aircraft should be placarded "rear seat solo only" and should also have some sort of minimum pilot weight allowed when flying solo.Now, it would hardly make sense to try to solo the plane from the front hole anyway, since there are no instruments and no carb heat control up there. But just the same-! And as far as a minimum pilot weight, it is conceivable that a youngster, or a slightly built man or woman, might be too light to operate this aircraft within its forward C of G limit with full fuel. This would mean possibly running out of elevator in the flare or rotation... and a hard landing or an extended takeoff run.Anybody come up with similar loading cases in their W&B's? Mind you, the airplane still needs an official re-W&B after the rebuild is complete, but I'm looking at what-ifs. I guess if I forget all the mother hen stuff, this airplane can really handle a wide range of loading conditions and can safely carry a pilot and passenger, but there are some conditions to watch for. And I think I may just add a "rear seat solo only" placard to that lonely, bare front panel. Does anyone else have theirs placarded that way (not you Sky Scout guys)?Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________