CG and whittman tailwind/ cougar?

Question

I looked at a whittman tailwind today... This thing had a vary large pannel on it... From what the guy was telling me the panel is normally about 6 inches shorter then what was installed... It seems like there was no leg room in it, I am a big guy around 5'9 290... I have short legs and there still seems that there would be a lack of leg room in that aircraft even I were to put a different panel in it. There seems to be a pretty big baggage area in the back. Anyone know if I would through the cg way off if I were to cut down the baggage area and move the seat back 4 inches or so???

Answer 1

Cherokee_flyer:  The Whittman Tailwind is an experimental category aircraft.  With such aircraft you do not need to be a licensed A&P to perform maintenance or alterations.

EDIT:  Sorry, yes you must be the builder.  I missed that part of his post.  Thanks for picking that up.

Answer 2

I would ask this question in the yahoo group's tailwind forum (see link below).  There is probably a builder in the group that has made a similar modification or can tell you why it's a bad idea.  If you are interested in the Tailwind, I would join this group.  As for the mod, you can do it.  Just be careful because your work has to be inspected by an A&P (or the original builder if they got the  repairman certificate)  during the required annual conditional inspection.  

I have seriously looked at buying a tailwind.  Nice design!

Answer 3

you will need to have a licensed A&P to do the work,  a new W&B done . With out knowing the weight and arm of the seats and the cg range I cannot comment on if you would be out of cg, moving the seat back 4 inches could (but not necessarily) put you in a dangerous aft cg configuration, making it hard, if not impossible to recover from a stall.

You would  most likely need a field approval from a FAA FSDO Inspector as well.

For the cost involved, not to mention the time your plane would be out of service, spend the extra monies and buy yourself a plane that already meets your needs,  perhaps a RV-6

edit, just noticed your weight at 290, I doubt the -6 will be  comfortable on a long flight. at your size, you might consider a four seater  Grumman American  Tiger or a Van's RV-9/9A

two seater (side by side)

edit;

Mike,  just because it is an experiential not so... contrary to popular belief, with out a repairman's  certificate he cannot work on any plane (unsupervised by an A&P) unless HE is the builder ...see

§ 65.104   Repairman certificate—experimental aircraft builder—Eligibility, privileges and limitations.

(a) To be eligible for a repairman certificate (experimental aircraft builder), an individual must—

(1) Be at least 18 years of age;

(2) Be the primary builder of the aircraft to which the privileges of the certificate are applicable;

(3) Show to the satisfaction of the Administrator that the individual has the requisite skill to determine whether the aircraft is in a condition for safe operations; and

(4) Be a citizen of the United States or an individual citizen of a foreign country who has lawfully been admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

(b) The holder of a repairman certificate (experimental aircraft builder) may perform condition inspections on the aircraft constructed by the holder in accordace with the operating limitations of that aircraft.

(c) Section 65.103 does not apply to the holder of a repairman certificate (experimental aircraft builder) while performing under that certificate.