Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 09:05:01 -0500
From: RICHARD VAN GROUW <102077.3003@compuserve.com>
Subject: weight and balance of Eagle 540
Sender: RICHARD VAN GROUW <102077.3003@compuserve.com>
To: All <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Message-ID: <200002250907_MC2-9A83-ED2A@compuserve.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0

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 I have received some questions about the weight and balance of the Eagle
540 installation in the Lancair. This was one of my concerns as well so I
did a these calculations in a preliminary form as soon as I hung the engine
and prop. I suspended the intercoolers in their approximate position on the
engine and put the cowl in place. The rest of the airframe was in flying
configuration including upholstery. The front seats were not installed at
the time as I anticipated doing a fair amount of work completing wiring the
engine computer interface to the airframe. I also did not have the supply
and return hoses in place for the oil cooler and water hose from the water
pump to the firewall penetration from the radiator. Also there was no water
or oil in the systems as the above mentioned  hoses were not in place. My
guess is that the above  items not being in place would have little effect
on the overall weight and balance as the bulk of the coolant will be near
the CG as the radiator is located in the belly nacelle. Also the lack of
front seats would not change much as they to are located very close to the
CG

In the configuration above the empty CG was well within the CG limits.  The
calclation for the most forward CG was .75in aft of the forward CG limit
and in the most aft loaded situation was .9in forward of the aft CG limit.

The engine is reported by the company to weigh 695lbs. I suspect this is
the weight without the wiring harness and the engine computers. My airbill
weight for the shipping of the engine was for 950lbs. I weighed the
shipping material and crate and subtracted this from the total weight to
get a net weight of 715lbs. this weight also included some heat shielding
for the cowl which was shipped in the same crate as the engine.

My guess is that the total installation for this engine will run about
150lbs more than the Continental including the belly nacelle and plumbing,
air conditioner evaporator and condenser. This installation uses a 4 or 5
blade composite prop. If one were to compare this installation to a
continental with  a metal prop the weight difference would be less. Since
the belly nacelle and its contents are located near the CG, Most of the
excess weight of this installation does not affect the CG location.  The
only change I made during building was to place my batteries more aft and
also place the A/C coil just behind the pressure bulkhead.

I will weigh the completed plane just prior to flying and give you the
final data at that time.

Rick Van Grouw
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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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