Weight & Balance…

So the weight:

The net net is that I was pretty bummed out earlier today not getting even close to where I wanted. We weighed her, freaked out, pulled the scales, zeroed them again, and re-hung her. Same.

Like many who have come before me, (and many yet to come) I fell victim to my own hyperbolie and half baked dreams of a bushed-out sub-1700 H model. After a tasty sandwich and a cup a joe, I came to realize that I had done pretty damn well considering all the mods and gizmos I added, so I’m content with where she’s at.

So…..

The day before I ripped into the Skywagon I had her on the scales for a baseline. On 8.5x10s with all old seats, junky interior, old radios, 12 qts of oil and 79 gal full of she came in at 2303lbs.  This morning on the scales she weighed in at 2265 (with another 2 lbs getting subtracted for a flashlight and portable GPS that was left inside.) Net savings of -40lbs.

For my standard flying config, I will have the back seats out, which will give me an empty weight of 1802lbs on big wheels, max gross of 3190, and a useful of 1388lbs. (Skytec starter on order to get me under 1800 lbs) Of course my CG will probably be right up against the forward side of the envelope and will have to stuff 50lbs of gear in the ext baggage to get her to land in the sweet spot.  I know I could have saved a bunch more had I forwent the comfy leather, all the powdercoating, used less 1/4″ foam, not painted the interior and not shot base coat/clear coat on the exterior, but I recon it’s a respectable enough weight considering all the mods on the airplane. I think not to shabby for an auto-pilot’d IFR bush plane…

CG paper work tomorrow, then all that’s left is to bleed the breaks and I can start her up…