First Flight Prep: Weight and Balance.

Update 10-Dec-23: I was able to secure high quality calibrated scales from Weigh-Systems Inc. from a gracious on-field helicopter concern.  This changed my W&B numbers which are updated at the bottom of the page.

 

With the airplane fully assembled, measuring weight and balance was next.  I obtained three of these 660 lb scales, model PCR-3315.  They can be found cheaper elsewhere.

It's important not to lift the airplane up then place it on the scales.  This is because the main gear wheels would then place a lateral force on the scales, skewing the results (not just the scales!).  

So we first lifted the main wheels up onto blocks that were the same height as the scales.  This was easily accomplished by my friend laying on his back and lifting each main wheel with his legs on the wing spar.  I then slipped the wood blocks under each wheel, slightly off-center so that the wheel could slip into place when it bore weight.

Here is the left wheel on the block, chocked.

Next, we put the right wheel on the block, pushed the plane onto the two scales for the mains, then used the engine crane to lift the nose wheel onto its scale. 

Following that, all of the fairings were mounted with the screws.  Headsets, carpets and seats remained in the aircraft.  The engine was full with oil whilst the tanks were dry.

Below are the results, using the arm lengths from the demonstrator (I will update this table whence I measure the arms for my aircraft).  I expected that my airplane would probably be the heaviest RV-14A of the fleet.  I believe I am correct.  This is because my panel is elaborate (weighing nearly 30 pounds), as well as nearly all of the interior aluminum (except for the rudder and fuel tanks) is primed.  I will verify the accuracy, as best I can, of the scales.

	Weight	Arm	Moment
Left	471	97.44"	45,894
Right	472	97.59"	46,062
Nose	369	40.19"	14,830
Total	1,312		106,786
CG	81.4"

You can find my W&B spreadsheet on my POH and checklists page.

As a comparison, I searched for others' results using VAF as well as asking other builders.

Aircraft	Owner	Model	Weight	CG	Notes
N14YT	Tim Olson	RV-14A	1,309	81.13	Painted, primed.
VH-XIV	Alan Carlisle	RV-14A	1,289	80.9	Painted.
	E	RV-14A	1,280	81.31	Unpainted, primed, second alternator, IO-390C
	Cliff	RV-14A	1,280	82.29	Unpainted. XP-400, EFII, second battery.
N626KM	Bob Meyer	RV-14A	1,262	80.3	No fairings, paint. Two batteries & alternators.
N947RV	Carl and Rafael	RV-14A	1,255	80.24	Unpainted.
	TJ	RV-14A	1,247	79.94	Unpainted.
N914VA	Van's	RV-14	1,246	81.38	Painted.
N214VA	Van's	RV-14A	1,237	80.67	Painted.
N214SW	Stoney Ware	RV-14	1,230	80.54	Unpainted.
C-FWIY	Tom Martin	RV-14	1,227		Unpainted.

However, my fat plane's weight doesn't concern me.  I'm a firm believer that the best way to manage aircraft weight is for the pilot to manage his/her weight! 

 

Update 10-Dec-23:  I was able to secure high quality calibrated scales from Weigh-Systems Inc. from a gracious on-field helicopter concern.  Weighing with these scales reduced my BEW (by 39 lbs from 2022 and 32 lbs from 2017) and changed my W&B numbers which are updated below.  The fuel tanks were de-fueled, all loose items from the interior were removed (except for the seats, carpets, side panels and restraint systems) and 6 quarts were in the engine.

 

	Weight	Arm	Moment
Left	456	97.25"	44,346
Right	462	97.75"	45,161
Nose	362	40.25"	14,571
Total	1,280		104,077
CG	81.31"