Charlie Kuss wrote:

Hi folks,
 My EAA Chapter is investigating investing in a set of aircraft scales to weigh our planes. One low cost alternative to either digital electronic
aircraft or auto racing scales are the RuggleS'cales. I would like the opinion of anyone who owns or has used these scales. You can find info on them at:
http://www.tgsi.com/scales.html

  I'm not sure that these scales would really be adequate for use on aircraft. I would also appreciate opinions from the engineers on list.
Please reply off list if you think that your reply would not be of interest to the group as a whole.
Charlie Kuss
RV-8A
fuselage
EAA Chapter 133 treasurer

Many of my friends use the lever scales. The trick to getting repeatable readings is to build a set of parking stands out of plywood the same hight as the pads on the scales. You have to put the car (plane) on the stand, and then roll it onto the scale. You can't jack it up and then lower it onto the scale. As the suspension spreads out, it side loads the scale and gives a false reading. They are as accurate as the person using them. Resolution to within a few pounds.
My electronic scales are good to under 1 pound, but they cost $1,200 dollars. If you can read a bathroom scale, it would seem adequate for weight and balance problems, and cheaper than the alternative.
Lynn E. Hanover

Use three big garage door springs at $40 each and hang them from the ceiling beams.
Calibrate them with a garbage can full of water. Good for weighing engines
too. See my article in Kitplanes a few years ago.

Paul Lamar

First page. Feb. 98

Paul Lamar
 
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