Kitfox 5 weight on tailwheel.

[topwater1956]

Just bought a model 5 with a 0200 and flys fairly good but seems tail heavy.
About what is the normal weight on the tailwheel setting in 3 point attitude with full fuel tanks? Thanks in advance

[PapuaPilot]

My model 5 was 53# at the original weighing, but that was done with the aircraft leveled longitudinally. This is a very forward CG and barely passed the most adverse forward CG calculation.

A quick check with a W&B calculator shows that if you tailwheel weighs around 75# you would have a tail heavy plane that would not be capable of carrying much cargo without exceeding the aft CG. If the tailwheel is 80# you would be out of of CG with a passenger or just a few pounds of cargo.

Do you know if your plane has one degree of forward sweep? It should if you have a heavy engine.

[ken nougaret]

My model 7 with empty tanks, level attitude, and an o200 is 58lbs on the tail. No wing sweep.
John McBean said that weight was perfect for the tail.

[jrevens]

My 7SS is 819# empty with 59# on the tailwheel.

[Jerrytex]

Just Completed my model 5 and just did the weight and balance on actual airplane scales.

912 ULS, Tanks Empty, plane leveled.

798 pounds total weight. Tail weighs 73 pounds

On the EXCEL spreadsheet, anything less than #70 on the tail makes my forward CG out of it's forward limit. My mains measured forward of the datum by so they are -3"

[PapuaPilot]

Just Completed my model 5 and just did the weight and balance on actual airplane scales.

912 ULS, Tanks Empty, plane leveled.

798 pounds total weight. Tail weighs 73 pounds

On the EXCEL spreadsheet, anything less than #70 on the tail makes my forward CG out of it's forward limit. My mains measured forward of the datum by so they are -3"

This totally depends on whether the wing has forward sweep or not. Each of these has a different CG envelope. If you have a Rotax you probably don't have wing sweep, if you have a heavier engine the wings should be swept forward 1 degree.

[Denalifox]

My S7 STi with 0-320 is 56lbs. Zero wing sweep and 963 empty. Empty CG is right on the Fore end so I can use all my baggage. Usually toting about 50 lbs of survival gear and whatnot around. EDIT: this is leveled, Not sitting on 3 point

[jrevens]

Just Completed my model 5 and just did the weight and balance on actual airplane scales.

912 ULS, Tanks Empty, plane leveled.

798 pounds total weight. Tail weighs 73 pounds

On the EXCEL spreadsheet, anything less than #70 on the tail makes my forward CG out of it's forward limit. My mains measured forward of the datum by so they are -3"

It seems as though W&B data can vary quite a bit between somewhat similarly configured and powered airplanes. I have a 912ULS also. My prop is a 3-blade 70" Whirlwind. Mostly steam gauges, T3 tail-spring & lightweight 8" Matco pneumatic tailwheel & 22" Desser tundra tires. Oratex covering. My empty weight was measured with 1 gallon of fuel, oil & coolant and in flight-level attitude (as it should be), with certified electronic scales. This is my empty W&B form (I've got the same form filled-out with multiple common loading conditions for me that I keep handy for quick go/no-go decisions -

30556

[Jerrytex]

It seems as though W&B data can vary quite a bit between somewhat similarly configured and powered airplanes. I have a 912ULS also. My prop is a 3-blade 70" Whirlwind. Mostly steam gauges, T3 tail-spring & lightweight 8" Matco pneumatic tailwheel & 22" Desser tundra tires. Oratex covering. My empty weight was measured with 1 gallon of fuel, oil & coolant and in flight-level attitude (as it should be), with certified electronic scales. This is my empty W&B form (I've got the same form filled-out with multiple common loading conditions for me that I keep handy for quick go/no-go decisions -

30556


For sure. The Excel program makes it easy to check certain load configurations. Bryan Bowen from Project Kitfox did a good job in one of his videos demonstrating this. As Phil mentioned, the swept wings brings a whole new set of parameters into the mix.