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/a...A-S-8083-1.pdf
AC43.13-1
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory...E?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
|