Kitfox model 2 weight and balance

[dalords]

Almost complete with my project (rebuild) Kitfox model 2. The plane never came with any weight and balance data, so I have to go off and recreate it. I was wondering what is the CG limits of this model? Is the datum the wing root leading edge like it is on a model 4? is anyone will to email me their weight and balance data sheet so that I can get an idea of what it should be? If so send it to dalords@cablone.net. I will be weighing the plane this weekend.

[dalords]

Or anyone who would have a model 2 or 3 construction manual section that went through how to do the center of gravity calculation

[jiott]

The W&B spreadsheets on the Kitfox website (Technical FAQ) should work fine for you. You just have to enter your own data for your specific aircraft, and use the fore and aft CG limits for your specific model. You should be able to get these limits from the factory. The worksheet methods and procedure will work for any airplane.

[jiott]

The W&B spreadsheets on the Kitfox website (Technical FAQ) should work fine for you. You just have to enter your own data for your specific aircraft, and use the fore and aft CG limits for your specific model. You should be able to get these limits from the factory. The worksheet methods and procedure will work for any airplane.

As I posted above, I strongly recommend using the above spreadsheets on the Kitfox website; they are very easy to use once you have the data from going thru the procedure posted by KFfan. It doesn't matter which spreadsheet you use (model 4, 5, 6 or 7) as long as you use the fore & aft CG limits for your particular airplane. The spreadsheet doesn't calculate the limits, it only calculates the actual CG for a particular loading. You then take this actual CG number and compare it to the fore & aft limit range to see if you fall within it.

[jiott]

One more thing: make sure you plug in the "arm" distances for pilot/passenger, fuel, baggage for your actual airplane (given in the last page of KFfan's post) in the appropriate places in the spreadsheet. Then with that spreadsheet you can quickly explore what happens to the CG with various combinations of fuel, baggage, and pilot/passenger weights. The calculation formulas are built into the spreadsheet so you don't have to do any math.

[KFfan]

Doug

Here are the original W&B pages for S/N359. Happy calculating!

[dalords]

That's the problem I am having. Kitfox doesn't have this info. They don't deal with the older models. Yes they have some parts but as for anything else you are pretty much on your own. That's why I would like the info from another model 2 owner

[KFfan]

My offering from the build manual of S/N 359

[dalords]

that helped out a lot Lou thanks. It did however bring up some new questions, my plane is tricycle not tail wheel, so how do the guys with nose wheel figure out the most fwd and most aft CG. what's the process for figuring it

[KFfan]

I must admit I am new to flying as well as Kitfox. I am not aware the model 2 was ever offered as a tri-gear. I don't know how the difference in the gear would effect the W&B calculations. My fledgling mind reasons the overall calculations would be the same as long as you have the model 2 wings. Again, I am just learning aeronautics. I am confident someone more knowledgeable will chime in on this and set me straight.