Plans: 1. Make more precise weight & C.G. measurements. Status: Still working the C.G. challenge I have come to the conclusion I need to get better scales. Previously I had been placing one of the wheels on a bathroom scale while suspending the tail. The fuselage was level longitudinally but leaned slightly. Today I tried to level it horizontally at the same time by trying to lift both wheels simultaneously. It made a big difference in the forward weight. It turns out that I am about 20 lbs. heavier when weighed in this way. The net effect is that the battery needs to be further back toward the tail just behind the seat. I went ahead and started construction of a battery box for an Odyssey PC680. It's about 15 lbs. Amazingly the C.G. was almost perfect without the battery weight as it stands. Go figure. Once I get better scales and the final fabric etc. I will finalize things. If the numbers hold, I can seat a pilot between 160 to 225 lbs. with up to 10 lbs. of baggage and 12 gallons of fuel.
The battery box was made with some 1 inch angle scrap to enclose the battery from all sides on a base plate. The top latch hinges from the rear. The entire assembly can be mounted as a unit.
