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Tail heavy/Nose heavy

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lake_harley

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
1,071
My question might be as much a question of semantics as anything. I've heard a slightly "nose heavy" plane is preferable than one that tends toward the "tail heavy" side. Again, through reading, the reason "nose heavy" is preferable is so the plane will have a nose-down tendency rather than pitching nose-up nearing a stall. IF my understanding is correct up to this point, then here's my question based on the MiniMAX I'm bringing to completion.

The acceptable range of CG on my MiniMAX is 20-30% of chord. My plane comes in close to the 30% CG and many say they fly better in the upper 20's vs the lower 20's. Even though my plane has a CG in the "desirable" part of the CG range, I would have called my plane "tail heavy". So, that's where my confusion comes in, it seems opposite of what I thought. Is it just word choice and terminology that has me confused?

Thanks, in advance.

Lynn
 
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