Sonex builders weight and balance database

[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

[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

[Sonex1517]

I archived some of them and will look and see if I have it


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
N1517S

[kevinh]

That would be awesome if you do Robbie! Also thanks to those that have already added their planes.

[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.

[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

[kevinh]

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.

[Sonex1517]

Excellent. Thanks Kevin!

I can also contribute mine to the spreadsheet

[rizzz]

I've got mine in.

[ScottM-Sonex1629]

Mines be added as well