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04-18-2012, 11:48 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,686
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Ballast
Anyone have any clever ideas for removable ballast for an RV-8?
I really enjoy flying my -8, but it's a little nose heavy with just me in there. Since I do most of my acro solo I'm giving up handling qualities (IO-360A1A w/Hartzell).
My empty weight is 1144 with a CG 78.93". If I could put 25lbs in the tail (as far back as possible), my calculations put me in the center of the envelope around 83".
I would love something that could be easily removed for large rear passengers (FAA std weight passengers wouldn't be affected - just the Bubbas).
Any thoughts?
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04-18-2012, 11:55 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
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Concrete.
Hi Brent,
I borrowed an 80 lb. sack of quikcrete from our local building supply store and put it in a garbage bag for my friend's RV-4 flight to see what a more aft CG would make the airplane perform/ feel like
Best,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
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04-18-2012, 12:23 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,346
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Ahhh, the Tungsten tailwheel...
Any chance a lead collar on the tailwheel stinger would give you enough shift?
__________________
Mike W
Venice, FL
RV-6A. Mattituck TMX O-360, FP, GRT Sport EFIS, L3 Lynx NGT-9000
N164WM
N184WM reserved (RV-8)....finishing kit in progress. Titan IOX-370
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04-18-2012, 12:46 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,060
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Brent,
I keep a "Flyaway Kit" strapped to the aft baggage shelf.
It includes, 1/4 inch drive ratchet set, open end wrenches, Master and starter contactors, 2 quarts of oil, spare fuel cap, etc, etc,etc. Totals about 17 lbs.
That helps alot. Then I move it to the fwd baggage if I have a pax.
__________________
Jon Thocker
Habitual Offender
RV4, RV4, RV6A, RV8, RV8, RV8,RV8, RV8, RV8, RV12
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04-18-2012, 12:58 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Fredericksburg, TX
Posts: 662
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What "Mutha" said plus
you might consider a collapsible 5 gal. water jug in the rear baggage compartment. If you pick up a pax you can dump the water on the local flower bed.
__________________
Jim Averett
RV-8
TS36 - Silver Wings
Fredericksburg, TX
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04-18-2012, 01:05 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 976
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Have discussed with others, at the build stage of an RV-8, an integral / bag type water tank in the aft fuselage area.
Probably not impossible to retrofit in a flying RV-8?
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04-18-2012, 01:23 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chino, CA
Posts: 738
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jthocker
Brent,
I keep a "Flyaway Kit" strapped to the aft baggage shelf.
It includes, 1/4 inch drive ratchet set, open end wrenches, Master and starter contactors, 2 quarts of oil, spare fuel cap, etc, etc,etc. Totals about 17 lbs.
That helps alot. Then I move it to the fwd baggage if I have a pax.
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This is what I do too. Also my oxy bottle is in the rear baggage compartment.
Great thing about the -8 is the ability to balance the load.
__________________
Tom Prokop
Chino, CA
RV-8A,180/CS/Carb, AFS 4500 EFIS/EMS
RV-6, sold, 820 hrs of fun.
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04-18-2012, 02:30 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 08A
Posts: 9,500
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We once talked about a tubular holder built across a rear fuselage bay near the tail, with an easy access cover on one fuselage side. I was going to build one in and neglected to do it. The idea was to enable slipping a heavy slug in and out quickly. A steel slug 3" dia and 8" long weights about 16 lbs.
__________________
Dan Horton
RV-8 SS
Barrett IO-390
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04-18-2012, 03:02 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 10
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Lead
You might try a 25lb bag of lead shot. Small in size, but would provide the weight without moving around.
__________________
Lou Bauer
Planning for RV14!
St. Louis, MO
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04-18-2012, 03:57 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Posts: 432
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Ballast
-8A with firewall-mounted battery. I went to the local Guns 'R Us store and bought 2 25 lb sacks of lead shot. Pricey but compact and effective.
I cannot reach aft CG limit without exceeding gross weight limits.
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