flight test ballast ideas?

[[email protected]]

Can anyone give me some ideas for temporary, but securable weight
ballasts? The situation is we're preparing for FAA required test
flights on our FIRST production aircraft. Weight will most likely need
to be positioned in the right seat area, and/or in the limited baggage
area behind the two seats. Wing bladders are not an option, nor is
anything requiring a permanent mount. A non-U.S. built model of this
aircraft has already been certified for U.S. flight. This is the first
built here; but is not a prototype or "test model". This aircraft will
be sold to a private buyer once it passes flight tests. This is the
reason for the ballasts needing to be "non-invasive". I was thinking
of something that could be bolted to the right seat mounts and/or
strap secured in the baggage compartment.

Any suggestions or sources?

Thanks,
DocS

[B A R R Y]

On 28 Jan 2007 09:10:34 -0800, wrote:

>
>Any suggestions or sources?
>

How about the 7 gallon plastic water jugs sold in the camping
department of any Wal*Mart?

I use them for baggage area weight with a tie down run over the top
and through the handle. You can fill them with sand if you don't want
water.

[Jim Macklin]

Consider where you want to attach the weight. Does it need
to be for gross weight performance testing or forward and
aft limit stability? Will you be moving the weight during
the test series/

You can make some sand cast moulds, and custom make some
lead weights. They should be small enough to handle and
have holes drilled so they can be bolted in place on seat
rails, pallets, or other strong places.
See the FAA Weight and Balance handbook
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/media/FAA-S-8083-1.pdf
AC43.13-1
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/99C827DB9BAAC81B86256B4500596C4E?OpenDocument
should have more information.

You can use strong metal tool boxes and bags of lead shot
(see sporting goods store for shot) to do temporary ballast.
Bags are 25 pounds and can be placed inside the boxes which
should be securely fasten and closed.





> wrote in message
ups.com...


| Can anyone give me some ideas for temporary, but securable
weight
| ballasts? The situation is we're preparing for FAA
required test
| flights on our FIRST production aircraft. Weight will most
likely need
| to be positioned in the right seat area, and/or in the
limited baggage
| area behind the two seats. Wing bladders are not an
option, nor is
| anything requiring a permanent mount. A non-U.S. built
model of this
| aircraft has already been certified for U.S. flight. This
is the first
| built here; but is not a prototype or "test model". This
aircraft will
| be sold to a private buyer once it passes flight tests.
This is the
| reason for the ballasts needing to be "non-invasive". I
was thinking
| of something that could be bolted to the right seat mounts
and/or
| strap secured in the baggage compartment.
|
| Any suggestions or sources?
|
| Thanks,
| DocS
|

[Ron Natalie]

B A R R Y wrote:
> On 28 Jan 2007 09:10:34 -0800, wrote:
>
>> Any suggestions or sources?
>>
>
> How about the 7 gallon plastic water jugs sold in the camping
> department of any Wal*Mart?
>

You do not want to use water for ballast unless you have made
specific provision for the where the water goes in the event
your jugs leak.

[RST Engineering]

You should pardon the expression of course.

{;-)

Jim

> specific provision for the where the water goes in the event
> your jugs leak.

[[email protected]]

On Jan 28, 9:23 am, B A R R Y > wrote:
> On 28 Jan 2007 09:10:34 -0800, wrote:
>
>
>
> >Any suggestions or sources?How about the 7 gallon plastic water jugs sold in the camping
> department of any Wal*Mart?
>
> I use them for baggage area weight with a tie down run over the top
> and through the handle. You can fill them with sand if you don't want
> water.

[[email protected]]

wrote:
> Can anyone give me some ideas for temporary, but securable weight
> ballasts?

I have seen specially shaped plastic bottles that are used for ground
vehicle weight testing. They can be filled with water, sand, shot, etc
to get the required weight. The bottle is shaped about like a seated
human, but with truncated arms and legs and no head - the neck is the
filler opening. The shape of the bottle allows it to be belted into a
vehicle using the standard seat belt. This is _not_ a crash test dummy -
it has no sensors and is not articulated. It's just a thick-walled
(polyethylene?) bottle.

Unfortunately I don't know the "official" name of this item and Google
isn't helping. These bottles get used a lot in vehicle testing, and
since you appear to be in Michigan, you might be able to ask someone
at one of the auto makers where they get theirs. Alternatively, you
might inquire at other places that do vehicle testing, like the auto
enthusiast magazines, Consumers Union (Consumer Reports magazine), etc.

You might be able to get smaller lead weights at a SCUBA shop. I think
they have a couple of styles: cast chunks of solid lead, and bags/pouches
that are meant to be filled with lead shot. Both styles will have
straps or provision for straps, so they should be relatively easy to
secure.

Matt Roberds

[Blanche]

Skylune.

MX.

other suggestions?

[Morgans]

"Blanche" > wrote

> Skylune.
>
> MX.
>
> other suggestions?

While I agree with your sentiments, .....

Nah.

Hearing them blabber while sitting in the other seat, or in the back, or
wherever you needed the weight, would not be worth it. I might have to kill
them, if I did it, then would find myself up on charges. <g>

Of course, you could need to test without the ballast halfway through the
flight, then push them out from 6,000 feet. That would be part of the test
dummy's test mission, and would be acceptable, right? :-)
--
Jim in NC

[Mortimer Schnerd, RN[_2_]]

wrote:
> Can anyone give me some ideas for temporary, but securable weight
> ballasts?


How much weight are you talking about? You might be able to use a common
diver's weight belt. The weights commonly come in 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 12 lb
increments and the belt material is the same that they use for seat belts. You
could easily wrap a belt around a seat and have it quite secure. The belt is
nylon webbing and can be bought in 50 ft rolls that you can cut to any length,
then seal the edges with a cigarete lighter so they don't fray.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

[Montblack]

("RST Engineering" wrote)
>> specific provision for the where the water goes in the event your jugs
>> leak.

> You should pardon the expression of course.


Leaky jugs are ok ....in a Baby Ace.

<http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Corben-Lambert%20Baby%20Ace%20D.asp>
"D" model wouldn't you know. :-)


Montblack

[WRE]

50lb sand bags!

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Can anyone give me some ideas for temporary, but securable weight
> ballasts? The situation is we're preparing for FAA required test
> flights on our FIRST production aircraft. Weight will most likely need
> to be positioned in the right seat area, and/or in the limited baggage
> area behind the two seats. Wing bladders are not an option, nor is
> anything requiring a permanent mount. A non-U.S. built model of this
> aircraft has already been certified for U.S. flight. This is the first
> built here; but is not a prototype or "test model". This aircraft will
> be sold to a private buyer once it passes flight tests. This is the
> reason for the ballasts needing to be "non-invasive". I was thinking
> of something that could be bolted to the right seat mounts and/or
> strap secured in the baggage compartment.
>
> Any suggestions or sources?
>
> Thanks,
> DocS
>