CG loading in your Mooney

[FlyDave]

I typically load with the CG in the center of the envelope because that airplane feels the best there.

With an aft CG I don't care for the way the airplane feels at pattern speeds and close to the ground.

How do you typically load your Mooney? Forward, center or aft CG and why? What, if any,  perfomance increase/decrease (climb/cruise) do you see? Any caveats to your methodology?

Thanks,

[jlunseth]

I am afraid I am not very picky about it.  Passengers in the front, baggage in the baggage.  My aircraft has a forward CG at empty weight, so putting some luggage in the back works out well.  Two big guys with no luggage will slow the plane down, and if big enough, the plane does not feel good even if w&b is legal.

[Cruiser]

In my '84J I normally fly near gross with a CG at 45.0 on takeoff and nearer 45.1 at landing due to reduced fuel wt.

Typically 7000' or 8000' WOTx2450 and 20°F LOP @ 148 KTAS burning 8.9 gph with CHTs 370 - 380°F

[Piloto]

It is almost impossible to get a Mooney outside the CG range even with long range tanks. Everything that is loaded is within the wing width. The out of CG condition is more prone on planes with longer fuselages where the loading is outside the wing width like six or more passenger planes.

José

[Parker_Woodruff]

[not me]

[John Pleisse]

I am a big guy...6-1 235. With a nother biggen up front, we are forward cg. I keep weight in the luggage area to offset this.

 

 

[John Pleisse]

I am a big guy...6-1 235. With a nother biggen up front, we are forward cg. I keep weight in the luggage area to offset this.

 

 

[Jeff_S]

Quote: Piloto

It is almost impossible to get a Mooney outside the CG range even with long range tanks. Everything that is loaded is within the wing width. The out of CG condition is more prone on planes with longer fuselages where the loading is outside the wing width like six or more passenger planes.

José

[Mac201]

What are the best W&B tools or ipad apps that you use.

[Jeff_S]

Quote: Mac201

What are the best W&B tools or ipad apps that you use.

[jetdriven]

I think the factory licensed weight is actually an estimate.  They weigh every few off the line, and make the rest of them the same number. Plus all those < 1 LB changes that don't require an update to the weight and balance, I bet our plane has 30 of those.  Then 35 years of service weight pickup. It was also painted. New interior also.

When my ~ahem wife did the air race in Galveston, we put 10 lbs in the hat rack, 125 lbs in the cargo compartment, and 200 LB of sand in the rear seats.  One pilot up front, half tanks. Even then, the CG was only in the middle of the range.

[Lionudakis]

Quote: Mac201

What are the best W&B tools or ipad apps that you use.