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Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2016 2:16 pm
by kevinh
Hi ya'll,

So I just saw someone asking about where to install a transponder. This question reminded me of a (minor) mistake when I built my RV. I had placed the ELT aft of the baggage bulkhead and as it turns out later on my plane was slightly tail heavy. I really had wished that I had installed the ELT (with the old heavy batteries) a bit more forward...

As it turns out a fellow named Dan Checkoway made a great resource for RV builders - it was just a user contributed set of CG/empty-weight numbers with a few questions on type of aircraft, configuration, engine, what folks installed aft of the occupants etc... This allowed builders to learn from many previously constructed planes and everyone got to have more information about what 'real' empty weights/CGs folks were seeing in the wild.

I'd be totally happy to maintain such a spreadsheet for the various sonexish planes. Does this seem useful? If so (and if you have a finished airplane) could you contribute your measurements here? (If there are other questions/options that would be useful, just add them to this thread and I'll update the form). If we get a few submissions I'll also make a spreadsheet that helps visualize possible CG ranges for different plane types.

The form for submitting measurements is at http://goo.gl/forms/frzADBl1bu. The resulting spreadsheet is at https://goo.gl/oR7edJ.
Kevin

Re: Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2016 5:53 pm
by kmacht
There used to be one on the old Yahoo site. If anyone knows where those files were archived it would be a great start.

Keith
#554

Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2016 9:16 pm
by Sonex1517
I archived some of them and will look and see if I have it


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
N1517S

Re: Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 1:35 am
by kevinh
That would be awesome if you do Robbie! Also thanks to those that have already added their planes.

Re: Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 8:31 am
by Sonex1517
I have the file in PDF format - if anyone has time to copy and paste the contents into Excel I will make it available through the Sonex Builders and Pilots Foundation

Ideally we would have someone designated to update it periodically and send me a file, for example once a quarter - sharing the document only works so well with a large group of users.

Re: Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 10:02 am
by sonex1374
My website has my weight and ballance spreadsheet posted and it may prove useful for planning purposes. You can run "what if" scenarios of equipment placement and see the effect.

http://www.sonex604.com/misc/N604CM_WB.xls

Jeff

Re: Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 1:58 pm
by kevinh
Sonex1517 wrote:I have the file in PDF format - if anyone has time to copy and paste the contents into Excel I will make it available through the Sonex Builders and Pilots Foundation

Ideally we would have someone designated to update it periodically and send me a file, for example once a quarter - sharing the document only works so well with a large group of users.


Cool beans Robbie! I'll add these to the google spreadsheet (the same one that the form I linked above auto fills/maintains) over the next couple of days (at least the ones that include moments). I'm happy to keep the spreadsheet up-to-date so you can share it with the foundation.

Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 7:51 pm
by Sonex1517
Excellent. Thanks Kevin!

I can also contribute mine to the spreadsheet

Re: Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 8:27 pm
by rizzz
I've got mine in.

Re: Sonex builders weight and balance database

PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2016 9:04 pm
by ScottM-Sonex1629
Mines be added as well