On Jan 11, 3:29*pm, "Dan Marotta" wrote:

Why don't the manufactures publish the height to raise the tail as a
difference between the axle center lines above ground? *Then you don't need
to cut or calculate.

Oh, gee... *That'd be too simple.

I specify W&B leveling with a level and wedge on the aft fuselage
because it is the simplest and easiest way of getting the glider
level. You make the wedge and keep it in the glider's toolbox, or you
use a digital level as somebody else suggest. I don't see what's so
hard or complicated about that.

I have actually designed in a couple of internal surfaces that are
parallel with the glider's x axis, but they are in under the wing spar
and you can't see them while actually doing the leveling. With the
level on the aft fuselage, you can actually see it while you are
raising and lowering the tail to find the level.

To specify the level in terms of height of the axles, you have to know
the distances of the axles from the x axis, which is not simple
because the gear might have an oleo strut (as does mine), and you
don't know if the tailwheel location has been changed or modified.

Also, when leveling to the axles, you have to know what you're
leveling to. If you have a hangar or shop floor known to be level,
you're golden. But if you're doing a W&B in the field or on grass or
another uneven surface, then you need to construct a water level or
other surveying tool. By then, the bubble level on the aft fuselage
starts to look pretty good.

Thanks, Bob K.