Hi,

A few years back I wanted to add weight to the tail of the Ventus B I was
part owner in at the time. The US Schempp-Hirth dealer at the time (Knauff
and Grove) sold me a lead weight that fit between the top of the fin and the
bottom of the horizontal stabilizer. It was very easy to install and remove
quickly. It worked great. It made it possible for me to fly the glider in
a much better CG location. One of my partners in the glider was much
lighter than me so he flew without the weight installed.

However, I must admit that as a mechanical engineer I was concerned about
putting so much weight (5 to 10 lbs? - I don't recall) up high on the fin.
In a ground loop or hard off-airport landing it would put a lot of twisting
force onto the tailboom. But it was never a problem.

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Marc Ramsey" wrote in message
...
Ron (RW) wrote:
I purchased a BRASS tailwheel from DG, out of Calistoga CA. Cost me
~$90, but was plug and Play for my DG200's tailwheel. The entire
weight of the wheel, tube and tire came to 6.9 lbs, with the wheel
itself weighing in at 6 lbs even.

That must have been long ago, or Oliver is clearing them out of his shop,
as they cost something like 350 euros new from the factory. I had a local
machine shop turn one for me a few years back for $120 (most of the cost
was the brass), they took some measurements off the plastic wheel, and had
it for me the next day...

Marc