Bob M,

 

In reviewing your weight and balance information I notice you have 90 pounds of baggage and hats behind the seat.  This amount seems very significant for aft CG purposes.  A lower amount would sure help the CG issue without having the work to move the battery forward.  With the battery farther forward, flying solo as Mark and Scott have mentioned might create some forward CG issues.

 

In my bird, when we travel, we (2 of us) rarely carry more than a total of 35 pounds of baggage and nothing on the hat shelf.  If I recall, Chris Z. carried about 90 pounds in the back of his 360, didn't like it very well and mentioned he wouldn't do it again.

 

When flying solo, I let the header tank down to about half full when landing and keep about 5 gallons in each wing tank.  I also put two small, 6 pound sand bags (12 pounds total) at the back of the baggage area.  These actions help the bird feel better in the flair on landing and it also helps keep the stick out of my gut (I'm not fat) some.  Even then, there isn't much elevator left.

 

Your aircraft weight of 1027# seems right on with the big battery.  My plane weighs 1013# with a light battery and a 12# harmonic balancer on the engine starter ring gear plate.  

 

Lancair's approved gross weight for the 235 airframe is 1500# on take off and 1400# on landing.

 

Keep in mind also, the overall length of the 235 airframe is shorter than the 320/360 models even with their short engine mount.  So the effects of the tail feathers (same size horizontal, smaller vertical and rudder) on your 235 may well be different than the stated effects others report for the longer 320/360 models.  Also, full flaps for us is 20 degrees, compared to their 30 to 40 degrees, so our half flaps of 10 degrees is not much.

 

I have not noticed much speed difference in my bird such as the 20 knots you mentioned when flying light as opposed to flying heavy.

 

Gary Edwards

LNC2 N21SN 235/320