REFLECTOR: Leveling

[Donald Royer]

Larry,

I have a set of electonic scales, but they are a little too heavy and bulky
to be shipping around the country. I would suggest that you try to find
some locally. They are automobile stock car racing scales, and so you local
stock car racing types might have one or could direct you to one. The
nearest EAA chapter might be able to help, and any local glider people
might know. Glider types tend to be obsessive about weight and balance.

Unfortunately, unless the original builder left some reference marks, there
is really no good way of leveling the plane. The points that were used to
establish the original level line no longer exist in the finished plane.
They were the front of the flange on the bottom half of the fuselage which
was cut off during construction, and the center of the dip in the back of
what is now the lower cowling which has also probably been cut off a couple
of inches with a fixed pitch prop. The left and right is easy, the center
of the top cap of the carry-throught spar is an ideal place for a level.
The left right leveling is not very critical.

If the builder did a good job and was careful to construct the firewall
correctly, the firewall should be vertical when the plane is level fore and
aft. That may be the best way to do it. Another possibilty is if you have
the main wing incidence gauge, it should show level when the plane is level.

During construction while the fuselage was still level, I permanently
mounted a line level bubble in an out of the way place so leveling my plane
at any time is easy. I recommend this to you guys that are still building.
It saves a lot of time and trouble later on.

Don



> [Original Message]
> From: Larry Parham <larry062851 at hotmail.com>
> To: <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Date: 11/30/2005 7:37:37 PM
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Leveling
>
> After buying my Velocity "N51LP 173 RGE Franklin Catto", I thought I
would 
> do a complete Weight and Balance.  My question is what is the proscribed 
> method fore and aft    and left and right.  Also does anyone have digital 
> scales for rent?     thanks
>
>
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