DXB Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 My still fairly new to me '68C started life with an impressive useful load of 1050 lbs but is now old and obese, with only 888 lb officially (though the accounting is sketchy in parts). Previous additions that are here to stay are bladders, 201 wing tips, and cowl closure. I figure there's a good amount of added weight behind the panel , and it's about to get the panel redone this summer (STEC-30, G650, Aspen PFD among other stuff). I'd like to hear ideas and experience on how to maximize the useful load gains before it gets reweighed at the end of this. My current thoughts are: 1. removing all Brittain wing leveler components (nonfunctional) will help 2. obviously removing the rest of the old engine gauges and panel components, along with any orphaned wiring 3. headrests from the front/rear seats (these aren't all that comfortable anyway) 4. Maybe get rid of the overhead speaker and handheld mic input? Will I ever actually use these for anything?? 5. I should try to drop 10lbs myself- seems only fair given what I'm asking of my plane. Anything else likely to be hiding in this plane that should be torn out?
Guest Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Lightweight Sky Tec starter, Plane power Alternator will shave some out of the engine compartment. Wash the dirt out of the wheel wells and the belly panels before the re weigh. Clarence
Jerry 5TJ Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Glass -- G500 or Aspen PFD/MFD installations -- can reduce weight a surprising amount: Those old gyros and legacy instruments are heavy.
Shadrach Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 I am interested in your Brittain stuff, when you're ready.
Parker_Woodruff Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Hmmm. That's 162 pounds. Seems a bit much for the mods you listed. I wonder what actual scales would say today.
rbridges Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 I don't know how much $$ you want to spend on aspen stuff, but you could get rid of the vacuum and standby. That would save quite a few pounds.
1964-M20E Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Maybe not the vacuum if he has the vacuum step unless you get rid of the step as well. Of course i have been contemplating how I could keep the step without a vacuum pump.
rbridges Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Maybe not the vacuum if he has the vacuum step unless you get rid of the step as well. Of course i have been contemplating how I could keep the step without a vacuum pump. I've thought about that, too. I figured I would just have the step "permanently" pulled into the fuselage.
orionflt Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Mines the original hand crank version... it really seemed like a better design then the vacuum operated version. Brian 2
DXB Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Posted May 11, 2015 I am interested in your Brittain stuff, when you're ready. Sure- will let you know- not sure why it's inop when I bought it but servos were overhauled in 2011 so might be in decent shape. 1
DXB Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Posted May 11, 2015 I don't know how much $$ you want to spend on aspen stuff, but you could get rid of the vacuum and standby. That would save quite a few pounds. Yeah I considered doing this and then getting a TSO'd digital AI to stay IFR cert., but I'm in it for too much money already. The unit cost plus $400 mandatory battery replacements every two years end up being much more than maintaining the vac for now, even though it will just drive the AI, which is recently overhauled. Maybe after the part 23 rewrite...
DXB Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Posted May 11, 2015 Maybe not the vacuum if he has the vacuum step unless you get rid of the step as well. Of course i have been contemplating how I could keep the step without a vacuum pump. Getting rid of the step is an interesting idea, given how low our planes sit. Mine has a fixed step. Has anyone done this and how do they like it? Also must be good for at least 10 kts I bet
Hank Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 I know people with stepless Mooneys. Try boarding yours without using it to get a feel for what it's like. It is especially nice to have for passengers more so than for myself.
orionflt Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Even sitting low my wife likes having the step to climb up, that being said I leave mine up unless some one really needs it..... then I will forget I put it back up and wonder why I'm 3 knots slower and not flying straight. getting rid of the fixed step is easy, just unbolt it and put it on the shelf in case you want it back on some day, one of my friends did that on his F. Brian 1
1964-M20E Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 I've thought about that, too. I figured I would just have the step "permanently" pulled into the fuselage. In that case remove it and gain the useful load maybe 5 lbs but a gain.
Mooneymite Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Big reason to keep the step is to encourage your passengers not to step on the flaps!
170driver Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 I believe you can remove the shock absorber from the nose gear on a C - that will save a couple of pounds. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
lamont337 Posted May 11, 2015 Report Posted May 11, 2015 Lightweight Sky Tec starter, Plane power Alternator will shave some out of the engine compartment. Wash the dirt out of the wheel wells and the belly panels before the re weigh. Clarence ...and the access panels outside of the main wheel wells. You wouldn't believe how much dirt/sand I found in there...
Raptor05121 Posted May 12, 2015 Report Posted May 12, 2015 My instructor has a Comanche without a step. He has a little plastic foldable stool for his wife to get on the wing and a orange lanyard which he drapes inside the door as to not forget it.
N601RX Posted May 12, 2015 Report Posted May 12, 2015 Here is a thread I started a while back. http://mooneyspace.com/topic/14346-weight-loss/?hl=%2Bweight+%2Bloss 1
DXB Posted May 12, 2015 Author Report Posted May 12, 2015 Here is a thread I started a while back. http://mooneyspace.com/topic/14346-weight-loss/?hl=%2Bweight+%2Bloss Huh- didn't realize the Skytec starter could save so much weight. Almost makes me wish my Prestolite would croak- guess I'm too cheap to make the swap while it's working well though. 1
jlunseth Posted May 12, 2015 Report Posted May 12, 2015 Has it been weighed before? I see you are talking about re-weighing. You can save yourself a lot of useful load by not doing that to begin with. Another fairly significant way to reduce the weight of the aircraft is to have your A&P clean all the dust and dirt out of the wings and tail section during the next annual. It collects more than you might think. 1
Andy95W Posted May 12, 2015 Report Posted May 12, 2015 Has it been weighed before? I see you are talking about re-weighing. You can save yourself a lot of useful load by not doing that to begin with. Another fairly significant way to reduce the weight of the aircraft is to have your A&P clean all the dust and dirt out of the wings and tail section during the next annual. It collects more than you might think. Normally I'd agree, but the OP has lost over 160 pounds from his useful load and doesn't have an extra 160 pounds of stuff. Decent possibility of miscalculation of W&B somewhere along the way by a mathematically challenged A&P.
DXB Posted May 12, 2015 Author Report Posted May 12, 2015 Has it been weighed before? I see you are talking about re-weighing. You can save yourself a lot of useful load by not doing that to begin with. Another fairly significant way to reduce the weight of the aircraft is to have your A&P clean all the dust and dirt out of the wings and tail section during the next annual. It collects more than you might think. Yes luckily it was weighed previously in '97 and came out at 935 (2 lb better than the calculated 933 up to that point). I agree I'd be scared to reweigh otherwise. It subsequently had a major overhaul, and bladders were added last year before I bought it. It was also subsequently repainted and had the interior redone without any W&B adjustment for this. I've been under all the panels during pre-buy in December, and the airframe was very clean of accumulated grime.
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