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Max gross weight phase I ballast for dual stick legacy sonex
Posted:
Wed Oct 10, 2018 3:46 pmby jowens
Any suggestions of what to use for max gross weight ballast for phase I testing in a dual stick legacy sonex? Lead shot is pretty spendy.
Max gross weight phase I balla with a dual stick legacy sone
Posted:
Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:25 pmby JimP
An 80 lb bag or 3 of Quickcrete belted securely into the passenger seat? Each in a tough garbage bag to keep the dust out of the plane. And 40 lb of play sand in the baggage area.
No shortage of bags of heavy stuff at your local home center.
Re: Max gross weight phase I ballast for dual stick legacy s
Posted:
Wed Oct 10, 2018 8:48 pmby rizzz
Here's what I did:
Borrowed a bunch of 20kg (44lbs) plates from my gym and added one at a time and went flying, also filling the tank each time.
They're good because they're heavy, they don't take up much room and they can be secured in place.
In the end I had 4 plates next to me and one in the luggage compartment. I was happy with that.
After that I drained the fuel to minimal level and went flying in a max aft configuration.
Re: Max gross weight phase I ballast for dual stick legacy s
Posted:
Wed Oct 10, 2018 8:59 pmby mike.smith
I used some 50 lb bags of pea gravel, all placed in my old Army duffel bag. I used the pea gravel around my yard when I was done :-)
Re: Max gross weight phase I ballast for dual stick legacy s
Posted:
Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:43 amby avee8r
I was able to borrow a water tank with a human "basic shape" that automotive testing companies use to ballast cars and trucks during testing. I could fill it incrementally to work up to gross weight. Unfortunately, due to its shape, it wouldn't work with dual control sticks.
Re: Max gross weight phase I ballast for dual stick legacy s
Posted:
Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:42 pmby DCASonex
Have coal stove in my shop so used 40 pound bags of Old King Coal as my passenger, and baggage. Placed those bags in large clean trash bags so as not to get upholstery dirty.
David A.
Re: Max gross weight phase I ballast for dual stick legacy s
Posted:
Fri Oct 12, 2018 4:49 amby GordonTurner
Whatever you do for this phase, please be VERY CAREFUL to ensure your load can’t shift, leak or impede the controls. Any of these problems can result in permanent death.
Gordon
Re: Max gross weight phase I ballast for dual stick legacy s
Posted:
Fri Oct 12, 2018 8:30 amby DCASonex
GordonTurner wrote:Whatever you do for this phase, please be VERY CAREFUL to ensure your load can’t shift, leak or impede the controls. Any of these problems can result in permanent death.
Gordon
Especially true if you have a center stick. Ran into big air pocket that tossed everything when testing mine, fortunately well enough secured that I still had control when I came back down from canopy. Tie down stuff in baggage compartment as well. Have a couple of permanently anchored tie down straps back there in mine.
David A.