Ovation weight Problem

[Niko182]

I am currently looking at an 98 ovation that has a useful load of 928 lbs. It has air conditioning so would removing it be an option.

my mission is gonna be getting my IFR in it and traveling with my family which all together weight about 630lbs. If i remove the air conditioning

I could get an extra 60 lbs of useful load but how much would it cost to remove, and how much could I get for the AC.

Thanks Nik

[carusoam]

No O2 and no AC will bring an O’s UL over 1k...

Based on my O1’s data...

But pulling AC out of an existing plane is like taking a FIKI system out...

Best regards,

-a-

[donkaye, MCFI]

6 minutes ago, Niko182 said:

I am currently looking at an 98 ovation that has a useful load of 928 lbs. It has air conditioning so would removing it be an option.

my mission is gonna be getting my IFR in it and traveling with my family which all together weight about 630lbs. If i remove the air conditioning

I could get an extra 60 lbs of useful load but how much would it cost to remove, and how much could I get for the AC.

Thanks Nik

Look for an Ovation without air conditioning.  It will be very expensive to remove.

[gsengle]

Is it fiki by any chance? Empty fluid reservoir works in your favor too...


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[Cruiser]

What is the gross wt.  3200# or 3368#

You can get 168# with the Ovation 3 upgrade STC.

 

[Niko182]

Just now, Cruiser said:

What is the gross wt.  3200# or 3368#

You can get 168# with the Ovation 3 upgrade STC.

 

All ovations have a 3368 takeoff weight. Its the eagles were you can get the bumb in useful load.

[wcb]

When traveling with the full family take on 10 less gal of fuel or about an one hour shorter time period between stops.  With the full family you know someone will want a pit stop (more than two people always means someone has a bladder off of the timing of everyone else).  Being in Houston I would say AC is to valuable of an accessory to remove and to add them to existing plane are almost cost prohibitive.   Does it have the 108 gal tank?  If you went with even only 90 gal you still get about 5 hours of flight time.  If it has the 89 gal tank then you get about 4 hours if you take off 10 less than full (how does 4 hours fit with everyone's bladder).

Edited February 18, 2018 by wcb

[Jeff_S]

Removing the A/C is not going to be worth what you would spend as it’s pretty tightly integrated. Even though you are in California, there may be times when you would like it. You don’t say how big your family is, but that 10 gallons of gas you could add by removing the A/C shouldn’t be a big deal. At Ovation speeds and fuel burns, I seldom take off with more than 70 gallons in the tanks.

But I just did some tests using my own W&B calculator and 630 lbs of people and baggage will limit your fuel load even without A/C. If you are looking for a true 4 person w/bags kind of plane for longer distances, you may need to look outside the Mooney lineup. Or be ready to make an extra fuel stop along the way.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Cruiser said:

What is the gross wt.  3200# or 3368#

You can get 168# with the Ovation 3 upgrade STC.

 

According to the type certificate 3200 pound landing weight and 3368 pound take off for all Ovations serial number 29-0001and up.

Clarence

[Niko182]

20 minutes ago, Jeff_S said:

Removing the A/C is not going to be worth what you would spend as it’s pretty tightly integrated. Even though you are in California, there may be times when you would like it. You don’t say how big your family is, but that 10 gallons of gas you could add by removing the A/C shouldn’t be a big deal. At Ovation speeds and fuel burns, I seldom take off with more than 70 gallons in the tanks.

But I just did some tests using my own W&B calculator and 630 lbs of people and baggage will limit your fuel load even without A/C. If you are looking for a true 4 person w/bags kind of plane for longer distances, you may need to look outside the Mooney lineup. Or be ready to make an extra fuel stop along the way.

ovations and ealges fit the mission profile I nee pretty well actually. I just need a useful load over 1000lbs, which most of the 97 and 98 ovations have. eagles are on a different level where most of them have a 1150 lbs useful load with the 280/310hp stc. Sadly, I really liked this one as it had a g500, with gns 530 and 430 waas. paint was nice. and the condition of the engine, plane, and interior were very nice. and price reasonably 160k. pity that the useful load doesn't work with this aircraft.

[Brian Stuart]

I live in Australia and this is my first post. I am looking at buying a 1998 Ovation and have a hypothetical loading question. If I have a load of 396 lbs in row 1, 363 lbs in row 2 and 33 lbs of baggage.  Will I be remain in balance at start and at ZFW?  I know I need the arm for this aircraft but just as an average loading question for an average Ovation without oxygen.  Any advice will be appreciated.  

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard, Brian.

Your example is a pretty well distributed, four standard passengers with light bags...  792 pounds total, allowing for about 35 gallons of fuel.  Depending on total UL, usually over 1,000...

 

I typically drop these numbers into an app like WnB (or other) unfortunately, I don’t have access to my WnB app today...

It is usually a challenge to fall out the back of the envelope as fuel burns off, but it is possible...

Stand by for somebody able to better share their weight and balance skills...

Best regards,

-a-

[Cruiser]

Your weight distribution is well within the envelope for a typical Ovation. 

It looks like about 49 gallons max. fuel and as you burn it off the Arm will remain about the same.

[KSMooniac]

If you're in to spending money, you could look at options like updating the interior with lightweight materials (assuming it has leather now), and upgrading the prop to a composite option. If it still has a vacuum system, consider removing it and installing an applicable backup instrument. Consider removing old/obsolete stuff from the panel like the ADF if there is one there. I bet you could get 60 lbs out of an early Ovation pretty easily...but it ain't free!

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[KSMooniac]

Forgot to mention some of the upcoming autopilot options might be much lighter than what is currently installed as well.

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