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Looking for input and advice from the experts. The M20F I just purchased appears to have an extreme aft CG of 52.83" empty from a weighing done in April this year. One question is the in item #5 which has the nose being -3.5" forward of the datum when the Service and Maintenance Manual (Rev E 9-1-81, pg 2-5) has the nose gear trunion point at STA -5. If I'm correct, that change would only adjust the CG to 50.1"...the aft edge of, but within, the CG envelope. Does anyone else have a similar situation? If so, how do you work with it? How can the CG be reasonably adjusted? I know that any weight aft of the CG is "bad" in this situation and any options to remove aft weight is preferred. For example, the aircraft has an HF clothesline-type antenna from the top of the cabin to the tail which may have options to replace. I was hoping to remove the ADF instruments but not until the CG is addressed. Reasonable suggestions welcome. I've attached the core of the W&B report (tail number, current owner and weigh stations names not include out of respect) W&B.pdf

Interested to see what the range of UL for M20Js is. Please fill out the poll you own an M20J, or even if you used to own one.

We all know that airplanes are faster with a more rearward CG. There is less elevator trim necessary for level flight. I was surprised at the difference in my 231. I fly +/- 10,000 ft in cruise on just about every flight. Rarely do I cruise below 9,500 ft and I don't go above 12,500 ft very often either. The vast majority of my flights are solo, occasionally with one other person and with 2-3 others a few times a year. So my day in and day out flight regimen is to take off with full fuel, solo and climb to +/- 10,000 ft for cruise. I fly LOP at 59% power. That very consistently gives me 160 KTAS on 9.0 GPH. I see it on every flight. Today I flew from Tucson to LA, climbed to 10,500 ft to cruise, solo, departed with full fuel. The usual. It was hot, over 100ºF on the ground and still 22ºC at 10,500 ft. I twist the true airspeed dial just for fun on most cross countries; it gives me something to do. I consistently see about 133 KIAS (the OAT is generally lower than today) which generally means 160 KTAS. Today I saw 137 KIAS which based on the temperature was about 167 KTAS. It seems I picked up about 7 kts today. I had a fairly heavy backpack, medium sized piece of hard sided luggage and my B-Kool fully loaded with two large blocks of ice. The rearward CG must have given me an extra 7 kts. I expected 2-3 kts but 7kts ??