Throw a Weight in the Back?

Anyone ever throw a weight in the back to get within allowable weight and
balance? I am flying a C182 with 430 pounds (pilot & passenger) in the
front row. The point is I would like both of us to sit up front for the
flight. I have other aircraft that I can fly, and this is not a required
flight (no safety flaming please).

Calculated arm is 37.99, and minimum arm at that weight is 38.15. I am
144.85 pounds UNDER gross weight at this point.

If I throw a 20 pound weight in the main baggage compartment the arm is 38.4
(meets the minimum requirements) and we can both sit up front.

Yes, many times. Instructional flights in the Seneca or Cherokee Six always
required a case of oil in the back.

Bob Gardner

"Kirk" wrote in message
news
Anyone ever throw a weight in the back to get within allowable weight and
balance? I am flying a C182 with 430 pounds (pilot & passenger) in the
front row. The point is I would like both of us to sit up front for the
flight. I have other aircraft that I can fly, and this is not a required
flight (no safety flaming please).

Calculated arm is 37.99, and minimum arm at that weight is 38.15. I am
144.85 pounds UNDER gross weight at this point.

If I throw a 20 pound weight in the main baggage compartment the arm is
38.4
(meets the minimum requirements) and we can both sit up front.

I got one of those 8 gallon (7?) blue plastic tanks from the
sporting goods store for water on camping trips. Filled it with
water, about 50 pounds worth. It's strapped down in the baggage
area and is perfect ballast. Plus, living out in the desert
area, most convenient if something goes wrong and I need to land.

Tastes better than oil, too.

Bob

"blanche cohen" wrote in message
...
I got one of those 8 gallon (7?) blue plastic tanks from the
sporting goods store for water on camping trips. Filled it with
water, about 50 pounds worth. It's strapped down in the baggage
area and is perfect ballast. Plus, living out in the desert
area, most convenient if something goes wrong and I need to land.

Kirk wrote:

Anyone ever throw a weight in the back to get within allowable weight and
balance?

Never done it, but I've read of cases. I've considered doing it myself to
make my Maule a bit less squirrelly. Shouldn't be a problem.

George Patterson
The optimist feels that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The
pessimist is afraid that he's correct.
James Branch Cavel

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
Anyone ever throw a weight in the back to get within allowable weight
and
balance?

Never done it, but I've read of cases. I've considered doing it myself to
make my Maule a bit less squirrelly. Shouldn't be a problem.

Weight in the back (rearward cg) will tend to make an a/c squirrelly. A
more forward cg makes it more brick-like. Flying with 4 and baggage and
almost full fuel (gotta love it), I have to aggressively move baggage
forward to get it inbounds (flt bag underneath front passengers knees, small
dense items underneath rear seat, rear seat passengers may have a light item
on their laps or around feet). At the rear limit, it definitely gets
squirrelly. Feels unstable. Hunts a bit in pitch. Very sensitive on the
controls.

But it is nicer to fly just inside that rear limit.

Maule Driver wrote:

Flying with 4 and baggage and
almost full fuel (gotta love it), .......

You pig! I can get four adults in mine. I can even taxi around with them!

I have to aggressively move baggage
forward to get it inbounds (flt bag underneath front passengers knees, small
dense items underneath rear seat, rear seat passengers may have a light item
on their laps or around feet).

Yep. Heaviest person in front, heaviest baggage between the seats, flight
bag under my legs, I know the drill.

George Patterson
The optimist feels that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The
pessimist is afraid that he's correct.
James Branch Cavel

Sure, do it. It'll fly better. The old turbo 206 I flew had the same
problem, and just a little weight aft sure helped. Walmart sells 5 gallon
foldable plastic containers for about 3 bucks. It'll put 40 lbs where you
want it, is easily desposed of, and if you park short of the airport, you'll
have 5 gallons of drinking water. Al Gerharter


"Maule Driver" wrote in message
. com...
"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
Anyone ever throw a weight in the back to get within allowable weight
and
balance?

Never done it, but I've read of cases. I've considered doing it myself
to
make my Maule a bit less squirrelly. Shouldn't be a problem.

Weight in the back (rearward cg) will tend to make an a/c squirrelly. A
more forward cg makes it more brick-like. Flying with 4 and baggage and
almost full fuel (gotta love it), I have to aggressively move baggage
forward to get it inbounds (flt bag underneath front passengers knees,
small
dense items underneath rear seat, rear seat passengers may have a light
item
on their laps or around feet). At the rear limit, it definitely gets
squirrelly. Feels unstable. Hunts a bit in pitch. Very sensitive on the
controls.

But it is nicer to fly just inside that rear limit.

In article ,
Kirk wrote:
Anyone ever throw a weight in the back to get within allowable weight and
balance? I am flying a C182 with 430 pounds (pilot & passenger) in the

I'm a little suspicious of your W&B for that 182, but obviously I
don't have all the numbers, so you may be right.

If you're that close, I'd consider a few things:

1) Most Cessnas have some knees in the CG curve as gross weight
increases. Make sure you aren't narrowing your CG range by making
the plane heavier and consequently subject to a tighter range.

2) Look at what's going to happen to the CG as the fuel burns off
during your flight.

But sure, you can put weight in the back. The plane doesn't know
the difference between real baggage and CG-fixing baggage...

--
Ben Jackson

http://www.ben.com/

I'm suspicious of your calculations or W&B info. In my 182L, there
is no way I can get out of the envelope with 430# forward, nothing
aft, regardless of fuel load.

MikeM
Skylane '1MM


Kirk wrote:

Anyone ever throw a weight in the back to get within allowable weight and
balance? I am flying a C182 with 430 pounds (pilot & passenger) in the
front row. The point is I would like both of us to sit up front for the
flight. I have other aircraft that I can fly, and this is not a required
flight (no safety flaming please).

Calculated arm is 37.99, and minimum arm at that weight is 38.15. I am
144.85 pounds UNDER gross weight at this point.

If I throw a 20 pound weight in the main baggage compartment the arm is 38.4
(meets the minimum requirements) and we can both sit up front.