REFLECTOR:CG Test

[Jim Sower]

Having done what you have done, I would be inclined to muster up some friends and do a
weight/balance with the fuel load you tested with, you *personally* sitting in the
pilot's seat, and the weights you used just as close as you can place them to where
they were in the back seat.
Just to be sure .... Jim S.

John Dibble wrote:

> I decided to do a test to determine my aft cg limit as suggested by
> Scott B.  My balance calculations for my SRG indicate I will be aft cg
> with less than 250 lbs in the front seats.  I weigh 170 so this needs to
> be resolved and nose weight added if needed.  I put 8 x 10lb weights in
> the copilot seat.  At 7500' I trimmed for 75-80kn and pulled back until
> the canard stalled at 60kn.  It took all the aft stick and I had to trim
> to about 70kn in order to stall the canard.  The canard motion was
> gentile and the plane was a bit wobbly, but stable.  One-by-one I moved
> the weights to the rear seat and repeated the stall.  Each time the
> canard motion was less pronounced.  With all the weights in the back
> seat the canard just kind of mushed down at 58kn.  In all cases I had to
> maintain aft stick pressure to get slow enough to stall and never had to
> push the stick forward.  I should add that I have 3 leading edge
> vortilons and one trailing edge fence inboard of the aileron on each
> wing.  So it appears that I do not need to add any nose weight.  Anyone
> agree/disagree?
>
> John