Estimated time to complete:
- 60 minutes

Aircraft:
- Beechcraft Baron 58

Objectives:
- Handling Forward and Rearward CG

 

You're going to see how the Baron behaves in two configurations: with a forward CG and with a rearward CG. The flight starts with the Baron at the hold-short position on the runway.

Your first flight is with a forward CG, so choose Aircraft > Fuel and Payload, and set the following conditions: Fuel: 25 gallons each tank (50 gallons total-300 pounds) Station 1: Your personal weight, plus 10 pounds of flight equipment such as charts, headset, and so on.

Try the procedure again, this time with a rear CG: Fuel: 25 gallons each tank (50 gallons total-300 pounds) Station 1: Your personal weight, plus 10 pounds of flight equipment Stations 2-4: Nothing Stations 5 and 6: 300 pounds of sandbags in each seat Station 7: 300 pounds of sandbags in the baggage compartment.

Ref.: West, Jeff Van. Microsoft Flight Simulator X For Pilots: Real World Training. Wiley. Kindle Edition(Location 12333).

MISSION'S SCENARIOS

Weight and Balance - Forward CG

  1. Don't forget to "Enable changes in selected Mission" on the Mission Selection Panel.
  2. You are at the hold-short position on the runway.
  3. Select "Aircraft/Fuel and Payload" and set the following:
    1. Fuel: 25 gallons each tank (50 gallons total & 300 pounds).
    2. Station 1: Your personal weight, plus 10 pounds of flight equipment (charts, headset, etc).
    3. Stations 2-7: Nothing.
  4. Following are the parameters to notice and record as you're flying:
    1. Elevator force/movement needed for rotation.
    2. Runway distance needed for takeoff.
    3. Ease of maintening climb attitude.
    4. Pitch attitude needed to maintain cruise climb airspeed.
    5. Elevator Trim Tab position needed to maintain cruise climb airspeed.
    6. Climb rate during cruise climb.
    7. Cruise airspeed when cruising at 9500 feet MLS at high-cruise configuration.
  5. The flight is relatively simple:
    1. Normal takeoff.
    2. Cruise climb to 9500 feet.
    3. Accelerate and maintain hight cruise speed.
    4. Return to the airport.
    5. Perform a normal landing.

Weight and Balance - Rearward CG

  1. Push "Ctrl + ;" to reset the flight.
  2. You are at the hold-short position on the runway.
  3. Select "Aircraft/Fuel and Payload" and set the following:
    1. Fuel: 25 gallons each tank (50 gallons total & 300 pounds).
    2. Station 1: Your personal weight, plus 10 pounds of flight equipment.
    3. Stations 2-4: Nothing.
    4. Stations 5 & 6: 300 pounds of sandbags in each seat.
    5. Stations 7: 300 pounds of sandbags in the baggage compartment.
  4. Following are the parameters to notice and record as you're flying:
    1. Elevator force/movement needed for rotation.
    2. Runway distance needed for takeoff.
    3. Ease of maintening climb attitude.
    4. Pitch attitude needed to maintain cruise climb airspeed.
    5. Elevator Trim Tab position needed to maintain cruise climb airspeed.
    6. Climb rate during cruise climb.
    7. Cruise airspeed when cruising at 9500 feet MSL at high-cruise configuration.
  5. The flight is relatively simple:
    1. Normal takeoff.
    2. Cruise climb to 9500 feet.
    3. Accelerate and maintain hight cruise speed.
    4. Return to the airport.
    5. Perform a normal landing.
  6. You should now have an appreciation for the importance of weight distribution in an aircraft

MAPS & CHARTS

KBJC Airport Diagram: