Weight and Balance

Finally weighed my Sportsman today.

Pulled off the bush tires and went back to the 850's.

Added in all the interior pieces that had yet to be reinstalled.  Some will not go in until after final inspection is complete and signed off.

I patched together the right wing vent while waiting for the last fitting.  Planning on doing the fuel flow test (again) tomorrow with the new header vent configuration.

All usable fuel removed.

Using my new ramps for the scales and not jacking each wheel and lowering onto the scale.

Levelled fuselage.

Good news and bad news.

Bad news:  Heavier than I wanted.  1499 lbs.  Was hoping for around 1450 lbs.

Good news:  C of G is OK.  Will need ballast in the aft baggage area in a single pilot configuration with low fuel.

Fuel flow test redo tomorrow.

Preliminary Weight and Balance

The moments of truth... and planning... and engineering / guestimating...

The last time I weighted the fuselage was when the engine went back on in January of 2023.  At that time, the fuselage weighed 808 lbs.  Now she weighs 1060... with no wings, prop blades, etc.  

Big days coming ahead.  Wings next!

Waterline / Doorframe Jig

So another little project that is long overdue.

Since I am not the original owner of my fuselage, the waterline was already marked (sure hope its right...).  But, from an ongoing perspective of being able to level the fuselage when needed a simple jig of aluminum angle gets drilled into the doorframe so it can be clecoed in when needed.  Just pull back the door seal, and cleco it in.

Been meaning to get this done for ages.  I have been leveling everything with my digital level off the marks on the fuselage... but with all the body work I have had to do, the line is getting faint :-)

The angle that I am using has been used many times... for clamping / gluing the trailing edge of the elevator, ailerons, flaps, and even cove skins.  But, its long enough that I can line up the waterlines, trim and drill (and then mark very carefully where everything goes, and hopefully I dont lose it!).  It is definitely going to need some cleanup... 

Initial placement.

After trimming and drilling and aligning...

Done...

Now the trick is to not lose or misplace it when needed...