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BALLAST!
Due to my super heavy engine I needed some ballast in the tail. Empty weight is about 75mm nose heavy out of CG. With me and minimum fuel it's OK, but I don't want a plane that is too nose heavy. I thought about just adding some gear or tools in the baggage area and a placard but I didn't like that idea.
I melted lead and formed them into bricks. I beefed up the tail bottom and added the bricks to the back. They are secured with a 1/2 inch bolt. Adding this to the tail took almost a whopping 50 lbs off my nose wheel!!!
My empty CG should now be nice and sexy (My rough CG calculations say it is) and I still have a 600 lbs useful load!!! The engine gives me 115 happy horses. The plate format allow me to adjust things if necessary.
Albums: CH750 The build...
Comment
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Comment by James Austin on March 18, 2015 at 4:06pm
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I admire that your not fighting it, (the weight).
Build it, fly it don't worry about it.
Your plane looks really nice
James
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Comment by Mark Maltais on February 18, 2015 at 7:53pm
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Hi Norm,
That was one option I looked at, but my battery is a Lithium that puts out over 400 CCA at a whole 2 lbs so putting that in the tail would be pretty useless. I also wasn't crazy at having a live wire running all the way to the back and I'd probably have to use a larger size wire to boot! I look at it this way. IF I did have a big heavy battery, it would be in the back, would weight the same as the lead so nothing is really different except I have a battery that won't die from sitting unused and weights next to nothing! :D
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Comment by Normand Lambert on February 18, 2015 at 10:40am
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Hi Mark,
My solution was to move the BATTERY down to the tail ! You could also use a HEAVIER (more power) battery and then take the extra lead out. Always nicer to use extra weight for something usefull instead of dead weight...
And remember, your plane will NEVER fly without YOU and some FUEL so your CG will be right there.
You can also EAT heavily ...That will help YOU and the plane (kidding) !!!!
My 2 cents.
Norm
CH701sp
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Comment by Clint L Gosch on February 17, 2015 at 7:57pm
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Mark, I had a 1985 ATC 125M. Had lots of fun with it! Very fun machines! Your 750 build looks great! Looks like you'll be flying soon!
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O-235! AKA the "Boat Anchor"!
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Comment by Wayne Koski on February 17, 2015 at 11:29am
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What engine are you using that it is so heavy?
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Yes it is! Good eye. Another hobby, I restore trikes when I'm not wrenching on the build. The 200x was a basket case that I converted to an "AutoX". Now mechanically 100% but needs cosmetic work. There are 3 trikes ahead of it on the list for cosmetics though, a 250r, a 70 and an original 1980 ATC185. I have 9 fully functioning trikes now and a bunch more waiting various rebuilds! :D
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Comment by Jeff naul on February 16, 2015 at 9:56pm
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Is that a 200x in the background?
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