Last week, I was finally able to get just about everything attached, bolted, screwed, installed, or just placed in it's proper position and location on my RV-7. Time to do the weight and balance. This is the final step, after everything is completed, to make sure that the airplane comes in at a proper weight, and that it balances at a point that will make it safe to fly.
The plane is leveled by raising the tailwheel until the fuselage is exactly level from front to tail. It is also leveled side-to-side by letting air out of one tire until the fuselage is absolutely level.
I borrowed a set of aviation grade scales from my local EAA chapter (EAA Chap 818), and with a little help from Marlin, I was able to get excellent results. My RV-7 came in with an empty weight of 1050 lbs, and the Center of Gravity came in about 1/4" behind where the factory recommends. That's good! I built light, installed lightweight instruments (Dynon), lightweight starter, and didn't go overboard with the interior seats and upholstery.
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