On Oct 30, 8:16*am, wrote:
John are you weighing the glider correctly?
eg tail boom should be at a certain angle, from POH
are you also measuring the distances carefully using the tail boom at the
correct angle and also using a plumb bob.

Yes, yes and an equivalent. *There's a pre-cut tool plate with the
correct angle on it; we put it on the boom spine and used a spirit
level. *My AME did the W&B following the original factory methodology
and documentation. *The results were not far off the factory original,
giving consideration to removing the nose weight and doing mod/repair
in the tail -- just heavier in the tail.

The previous owner actually had 30 lbs of lead in the nose: the
original 10 from the factory, plus he added 20. *He flew at 186 lbs;
I'm just over 240, so I figured the balance wouldn't suffer. *I'm
considering returning the 10 lbs to the nose, which should lower the
min pilot by about 15 lbs or so and shift the CoG forward a bit for
me.

15 lbs is a lot for the mod and repairs? *The boom was broken in a
landing and knocked off the tail. *A couple of pounds would have gone
into extending the rudder (about 3.5" wide) and mass-balancing. *What
would the weight be to repair a wing run over by one of those short-
winged 15m ships? *W&B was _not_ done after the repairs or the mod...
at least not that I've found a record (and I've got lots records for
the ship, dating back to importation).

Pulling out the water ballast plumbing is possible. *The hoses are not
in place when I fly (that's about a pound or so). *I don't know if the
Kestrel uses water bags or wing structure to hold the water (I _think_
it's just in the structure) -- I'll check in the Spring and pull any
bags, if possible.

There is an oxygen bottle, but not listed in the original W&B and I
don't fly with it. *The system is very old, so if I ever need oxygen
(not in Southern Ontario), I think I'll just buy a nice, modern
system. *The bottle has a mount location just aft of CoG (not much
room, elsewhere).

I've appreciated the information and advice... still learning lots
about my ship. *Anyone have the Addenda?

Regards,
John

http://web.archive.org/web/200003020...o.uk/cots6.htm
Note this DG300. It weighed within 10 ounces of the original when
repaired. It was also repaired by the pilot that flew it through the
wires.