Exceed Gross Weight but Within CG Balance
Over gross but within CG balance. With a brand new amphibian the first matter of business is showing it off with all its capabilities.
The SeaBee is overweight and underpowered. It is versatile but be gentle with the plane. No rough control movement. Fly this small plane like an airliner. It is a Holiday Inn plane - no hidden surprises with gentleness on the controls.
Stick to the placarded stickers - especially weight and balance.
Otsego Lake, outside of Gaylord, Michigan is a good seven miles long and a half mile wide. Hoxies Resort is a rough and tumble back woods retreat near the North end of the lake.
Dad fueled the plane at the Gaylord Municipal Airport and he and Bob Nichols, the airport manager got in and flew to Otsego Lake, a short hop.
Dad was around 180 pounds and Bob tipped the scales at a hefty 225. A round mound, great pilot but round. Did I mention they topped off the fuel.
They landed on Otsego Lake and put the SeaBee "on the step" to reach the resort with minimal waste of time. After powering up on the sandy shore a few feet my friend and I climbed on board for our first flight. The SeaBee has a reversible prop and we applied power to back off the sandy beach.
I tipped the scales at 165 and my friend weighed in around 230, a football guard in HS.
A hint, brought forth by a very extended takeoff run, told the pair up front a problem was at hand. We became airborne but the plane's rate of climb was very, very low.
It took three circles within the perimeter of the lake (seven miles long) to burn off enough fuel to rise to an elevation of 300 feet to clear the tops of the trees surrounding the lake.
We spent another hour, or two, sightseeing the many beautiful lakes and streams that dotted the area.
When we landed at Gaylord we retired to the airport office, with the operating manual in tow, to discover what Dad and Bob already knew. We were over gross by 350 pounds but within the Normal CG Envelope for the plane.
Couple that with a underpowered 215 HP Franklin engine and you have a delicate climbing capability problem.
Lesson here:
- Check W&B before you take off.
- If you are too close to Gross Weight don't top off on fuel.
- Warm, humid day - a long takeoff run is possible.
- Remember - experience counts. New pilot.
