How much is too much on weight after mods

[coupe1942]

While doing some recent mods, I was looking through the manual and found that the fly weight was 715 gm. (Not quite sure what the fly weight includes, but I suspect it is the total weight, including all mods and battery to put the plane into the air). Correct me if I am wrong about that though.

What is a reasonable total weight gain in grams once someone has done the basic standard mods to a Super Cub? How much weight gain is pushing the limits for the Cub once the standard mods are done?

Thanks for any input. I didn't find anything addressing this issue in the manuals, so far.

[jklong03]

Coupe,
I think common sense applies here. Unless you built a Frankencub with lots of plywood like I did, any amount of weight you need to add to meet your CG should be fine. The Cub can get in the air with the stock motor carrying floats, so I doubt you will need to add that much weight. Just CG it at about 2-3/8 inches back from the leading edge and have fun flying.

[coupe1942]

Just found a way to actually weigh the SC on my gram scale. I used an empty plastic cup (18 gm) to sit the plane onto the scale with. My instruction manual said the weight was 715 gm. With all mods done so far, plus the weight of the battery included, it came to 739 gm, total, after the 18 gm was subtracted for the empty cup weight. This means a 24 gm pick up in total weight on my cub with the present mods I have done to it. CoG seems fine, so far. It has 3" wheels on front and a 1" tail wheel. 

[renard80]

Coupe, please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel that perhaps you are a tad too concerned about your new aircraft.

Don't bother about weighing her! As jklong says, it's common sense. Unless you have lined her with lead or something equally daft, that tough old foamy is gonna fly, and probably fly nicely, so just go for it and have fun.

[coupe1942]

Now, lead would be interesting, especially if tinning was required ... :-)  God only gave me 5cc of common sense. Everyone else got 10cc of common sense on that day. He said I was on a low fat diet and my brain was already a bit heafty... :-) 

No offence taken, but the basic question has gone unanswered and I wanted to know the general parameters as I have some other camera ideas, but didn't want to push anything to the limit, weight wise. Spent the day in removing the decals on my floats and prepping them with a mod or two to see how they may turn out. Made some adjustments on the control rods to swing the rudder more evenly, but everything else seems ready to go. Still trying to find more info on the transmitter that is just not covered in the instruction book or the CD. So far, the transmitter instruction manual is worse than the owner's manual as to really addressing much. (Just my opinion though).

Concerned about it.... Nahhh, just taking my own sweet time and learning as I go. Works for me in doing that, but probably worries others silly. Have some stuff at the local bank to take care of, so not so sure tomorrow is the big day or not. Got to go by 7/11 and pick up some panty hose so I can then make an unscheduled withdrawal at the bank. Got to pay for this hobby somehow, huh? :-) :-) :-)

Wanna' bet on the first flight results? :-)

[jklong03]

Sept 27, 2013 1:51:25 GMT 1 coupe1942 said:

Wanna' bet on the first flight results? :-)

If my results are any indication, once I got close to "landing" my first time I predict a rough approach and a nice cartwheel once a wingtip catches. Again, that was my first experience, I wish you better!

[robert]

coupe,

i wish you the best on your maiden! i'm sure you've got it going through your head in every way possible. just make sure the conditions are nice and calm, and no matter how much adrenaline can course through your aged circulatory system, don't forget the pre-flight check. make sure everything moves the right way with the inputs. most of all have fun, and if it ends up in a tumble most likely there will be no damage, and if there is, you'll have fun fixing it all up.

mines been flying w/o incident on close to a daily basis for a month now. i've added a new plane to keep her company, wrecked it a bit, fixed it entirely, and ready to go again and again.

quick word of advice in regards to your funding scheme... don't bother with the bank. a grocery store has more cash on hand, less armed security, and is not in federal juristiction. so, if you get busted you'll only have to serve state time which is much nicer than the federal pen...

enjoy my friend. can't wait to read all about it.

[renard80]

If possible, have an experienced flyer take her up for the maiden to ensure she is properly trimmed etc. Also to be alongside to hold your hand during those first flights.

I say this because (a) it is always good advice for newbies (wish I had had someone for my first flight / crash), and (b) because you have put so much time, thought and energy into this new venture, I would hate to see it end in disaster.

However, if you're on your own, remember - Choose a calm day: if in doubt about the wind strength, don't go up. Be GENTLE on those sticks! No fierce movements. Throttle back as soon as possible, don't keep her blasting full throttle. Get up high, do not fly close to the ground (old but true saying, height is your friend). If it's sunny, wear sunglasses. Do not let her fly behind you, keep her in front at all times.

Have fun!

[toff]

Coupe, look, the weight does not matter ( well, not unless you're being silly, anyway..). The cub has flown with a housebrick attached. A housebrick! That weighs a lot more than some video gear. The weight is not an issue. But, the flying speed is. Add weight, it flys faster. Also lands a LOT faster. More speed is needed to stay airborne...so remember, it will fly fine, but leave extra room to land in!

[coupe1942]

I didn't see any house bricks being flown, but I came across this CoG setup and figured if it could fly with those two car jack stands a washer and some coins attached to it, then it must be a pretty good ol' bird.  :-)

[Crazy Horse]

I found that two house bricks or even a concrete block made it a little heavy. However it managed a lightweight thermal block with no problem, just a little difficulty getting more than a couple of inches off the ground.
I tried flying it with a jar of MARMITE (large) aboard and found the performance increase quite startling. STOL, knife edge, multiple rolls, etc all no problem at all.
Ah, the benefits of such a valued foodstuff.

[coupe1942]

I was in a good mood last week. I entered a competition and won a years supply of marmite... one jar! Not my original joke, but funny, none the less.
:-)

[Crazy Horse]

Was that the 50 Kg size?

[coupe1942]

They claim that New Zealand has the oldest known jar of Marmite in history. It has been awarded as first prize in the country's lotto for over a hundred years and no one has ever come forward to claim it. :-)

[Crazy Horse]

That is because it is not the English one.

Enough said.

Lady CH sends her condolences for your uneducated taste buds.

Lady CH hopes that you will recover soon and not frighten the horses unduly.