Firestar II - weight & balance

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Includes: Firefly, Firestar, Mark III C, Mark III X, Kolbra, Sport 600, Slingshot, Twinstar Mark II, and Ultrastar
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planecrazzzy
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Firestar II - weight & balance

Post by planecrazzzy »

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I have got my enclosure ready for flight testing .
I need a new W&B
The lexan was about 12 lbs. ... and a little hardware
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In the beginning ....there were 5 bathroom scales ...
got me by... but they were crap.
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I looked at the problem a little different ...
These hanging scales are cheap and accurate.
All I needed to do was hang it...self leveling
and being sure that the wheel doesn't touch the frame ...( I extended them about 3" wider from the beginning )
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My little stands worked ...
But...I had to use a jack ...raise the axle ..hook up .lower the jack ,take the jack to the other side ....repeat.
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I thought of my conversion then , just didn't have the time until now when I need to use it again .
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So...It works like a "chain binder "... it over cams and puts pressure to lock the handle to stay on it's own .(I'll still use some safety thing around it )
The height off the ground is easy to adjust with the different chain links
Mine is sloppy , but works very nice ...
notice the crossover , it acts like a stop from going too far .
Later a cable or small link chain would clean up the hillbilly look .
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I have had my Buttercup in the air with these same lifting frames ...
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Now just have to push it outside to do the w&b... maybe tomorrow , the wind has picked up .
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Gotta Fly...
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: Firestar II - weight & balance

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
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Re: Firestar II - weight & balance

Post by planecrazzzy »

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More about weight than balance ...
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My RAM mount won't work like before ...it folded down to get in ... then hung over slightly when flying .
Plus , its just heavy ...I was lazy .
Since this is part of the plane weight , while I was waiting for better weather to use the scales .
I spent some time on a new mount .
I made a removable mount , it slides down on an existing guide .
The Airmap is in the same view as the tube , minimum loss .
Its closer , so this ol fart can see it better .
Someday I'll have the side piece off , then I'll run the wire thru the tube .
.
Gotta Fly...
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
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Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
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Re: Firestar II - weight & balance

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
Mo pics
.
I think it's time to do the W&B today.
.
Gotta Fly...
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: Firestar II - weight & balance

Post by planecrazzzy »

Crunching numbers , I added more nose weight ...two more plates , 3 lbs.
.
My CG was in range ...but a little "Aft"...
So it got me thinking about a trim system ...
Still a good idea , but for now , this is better for testing

My Aft CG hits @ 15.95" ------- 26.15%

Forward hits @ 17.36"--------28.46%

These are some sweet balancing for now .
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Aft CG gives faster cruise , I'll need to make the trim system in my head.
(Hope I don't forget where I put it )
.
Gotta Fly...

PS 173.9 lbs. passenger / baggage
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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