How important is balancing the plane by holding the nose and tail? I mean, I have it pretty well balanced from front to back when holding the wing tips. But having trouble getting it perfect the other way. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good. Just not perfect.

I balanced it before I covered it and obviously had it leaning towards the muffler side. So I put some weight in the opposite wing tip. Now all covered and ready it started to lean away from the muffler the other day. Today it's decided to lean back muffler side. Getting agrivated and don't want to cut open the wing to add more weight. I think I'm going to give it a try as is and hope it's not to bad and I can correct with trim. Just wondering how critical this balance is if your OK nose to front?

Thanks

Talkin about CG? Okay thats very important if ya still new in flying.. you won't want the plane to have its tail heavy and it will juz keep going up up up... and u won't want it to be nose heavy and it will keep going down down down till u pull up. try balancin it by holdin at the both ends of the wing's tip ... try to find the center of the plane.. try to make ur plane lean foward alittle...ahem.

I did balance it by holding the wing tips.

It's the balncing by holding the prop nut and the tail at the same time that is listing to one side or the other that is what my question has to do with.

Lateral balance is important but not as critical as the cg balance. If your lateral balance if off you can trim it out but try and get it as close to level as possible. I balance my planes by hanging them upside down with a hook screwed in the fuse at the center point of the cg. This way you can get a much better way of checking both the cg balance and lateral balance. However this method is best on smaller planes...

What airplane are we talking about?

Thanks..

I have the PT60 Great Planes Trainer. See my next thread about how it went. :)

As a beginner I was told by several guys that lateral balance is not important on trainers. I still listen to suggestions and advise from others but I just couldn't go with that one. As a student pilot I tended to pull too much elevator and tended to tip stall a lot on take offs etc. Now I realize "I" was the problem :rolleyes:.. As we are in the learning process we may get into situations where a GOOD lateral balance MIGHT just help you to save the plane.... as opposed to one that is not. I would go for the best lateral balance you can get. I personally think the "finger tip" holding the plane is not very accurate. The other post with the string, or a string arount the crank, and a string under the top hinge in the space between the fin and the rudder will give you a better reading. I have made little stands with an upright for the tail and one for the crank. A razor blade is glued in a slot in the front one as a bearing for the crank to rest on. The other one has a DULL big nail sticking out about an inch that I rest the tail of the fuse on. These stand are about 6" front and 4" in the rear. I use scrap wood as shims to raise stands for different planes. JUST BE SURE TO KEEP THE WHEELS ABOUT 1" OFF THE FLOOR. The string is just as accurate but I feel this method is more stable to lay test weights on etc. The method used is personal preference... but it is important to lateral balance..... good luck... lownslo

Rekitter, the fact that the plane leaned towards opposite sides is good.......if it always leans towards the same side, then you may have a lateral balance problem.

Mike

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lownslo
[B]As a beginner I was told by several guys that lateral balance is not important on trainers.

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I will rebut this quote by telling you that lateral balance IS important. Many moon ago I tried to fly a PT-40 that was not balanced from side to side and let me tell you what.All it did was want to roll left and left and left. I could not trim it out what so ever. Mind you it was way way off,but none the less lateral balance is important.

Hello fourstar 40, You probably read the rest of my post, but I just wanted to clairify the subject. I did NOT agree with the experiended :rolleyes: advice either. I had one guy say it wasn't that important, and that a begginer has too many other things to think about. Good preparation is always important. Don't skip lateral balance on ANY plane.... trainer or an aerobatic wonder!!!.... lownslo