Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Weight......the final result!
Looking back through my blog, I see that 21 months ago I 'shared' my feelings about weight. (5th Sept. '06) See below. A few days ago I finally weighed it. I was lucky to be able to borrow a set up, which is normally used for weighing saloon cars being prepped for racing on the Nürburgring. It has 4 pads and automatically sums the weights, and does many other magic things quite unnecessary for weighing a -4.
The final weight is, to some extent, one of many judgements on the builder's workmanship. I had set my heart on it being below 990lbs, so when it checked in at 970lbs. with the CofG at 68.1" I was naturally delighted.
It is equipped with a Superior O-320-D1A, a 72" MT c/s prop, and I have the heavier grade empenage skins. I also have oversize tires which add a few pounds. The panel you can see here, and this is where I am sure I saved a few pounds though I am wanting for nothing.
Becki Orndorf supplied her very comfortable RV4 seats and I added VANS 5pt belts back and front.
It means that I and my wife, a full fuel load and 50 lbs of luggage check in at a gross of 1496lbs, 4lbs below the design limit and a full 54 below the higher UK gross of 1550lbs.. We will be at 73% of range 75", which is quite reasonable. Solo I will be at 16% which is a bit forward, so I may well throw 25lbs of something in the baggage compartment for the first flight. That would bring it back to about 30% at half tanks.
If you haven't seen a picture, here she is. Hope you like the colours.
The final weight is, to some extent, one of many judgements on the builder's workmanship. I had set my heart on it being below 990lbs, so when it checked in at 970lbs. with the CofG at 68.1" I was naturally delighted.
It is equipped with a Superior O-320-D1A, a 72" MT c/s prop, and I have the heavier grade empenage skins. I also have oversize tires which add a few pounds. The panel you can see here, and this is where I am sure I saved a few pounds though I am wanting for nothing.
Becki Orndorf supplied her very comfortable RV4 seats and I added VANS 5pt belts back and front.
It means that I and my wife, a full fuel load and 50 lbs of luggage check in at a gross of 1496lbs, 4lbs below the design limit and a full 54 below the higher UK gross of 1550lbs.. We will be at 73% of range 75", which is quite reasonable. Solo I will be at 16% which is a bit forward, so I may well throw 25lbs of something in the baggage compartment for the first flight. That would bring it back to about 30% at half tanks.
If you haven't seen a picture, here she is. Hope you like the colours.
