How was CG balancing handled in WW2 aircraft?

[colmbo]

Now when a pilot does weight and balance calculations, we use arms and weights to determine the moment, (Weight x Arm = Moment) which we then verify is (the moment) within CG limits. I have always been curious if arms, and the whole idea of the moment of the aircraft was used in WWII times.

Does anyone know?

Of course it was, how else would you figure W&B?

For the B-24, and probably many other aircraft of that era, they used a slide rule to do the W&B calculations.

[colmbo]

Of course trim can be used in these kind of situations. I've read that a single adult person moving through the passenger compartment of DC-3 can be felt in the controls.

On my 182 I could trim for level flight and simply leaning forward in the seat would start the nose down.  Old skydiver trick is to let the pilot get trimmed in the climb then gently move slightly forward or aft requiring him to retrim.  Once the pilot has retrimmed trimmed you move opposite the first move, repeat until he yells at you to hold the frack still.



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[MachFly]

Incorrect.  If there is a change in the C of G there will be need for a trim change. 

Yes in order to relive stick pressure, the way the aircraft performs however will not change. For example if the airplane is unstable due to CG trim will not help.

[hitech]

CIGAR and FTP are 2 mnemonics I was taught for pre takeoff check list on small aircraft that you have flow a lot.

CIGAR is before taking runway.
Controls
Instruments
Gas
Avionics
Runnup.

FTP  After or During taking runway.
Flaps
Transponder
Pump

HiTech

[MachFly]

CIGAR and FTP are 2 mnemonics I was taught for pre takeoff check list on small aircraft that you have flow a lot.

CIGAR is before taking runway.
Controls
Instruments
Gas
Avionics
Runnup.

FTP  After or During taking runway.
Flaps
Transponder
Pump

HiTech

I'm jealous, my emergency checklist alone is 38 pages long, and that's for a GA aircraft!

[bustr]

Of course trim can be used in these kind of situations. I've read that a single adult person moving through the passenger compartment of DC-3 can be felt in the controls.

In 1948 my father had just graduated from Lackland AFB, San Antoino TX as an Airman basic. He was the single passenger on an empty C47 that happened to be going to his first duty station. Having spent all of his 16 years of life on a farm in the backwoods of Alabama before signing up at 17, he was extatic about being in an airplane. So much so he went rushing up and down the isle in the aft area to look out all of the windows. The co-pilot had to come back and make him strap in one place because he was causing the C47 to go through a minor roller coaster ride. Back then it was a common occurence for C47 pilots leaving Lackland.

Even though he was not an Airforce pilot. In 1965 when he was stationed at Kelly AFB in San Antoinio as a Tech Sargent with the USAFSS, my father earned his civilian ticket at the Kelly AFB flying club. Subsiquently he flew with the Texas Civil Air Patrol before moving to his next duty station. In 1969 when he retired as a Master Sargent with a multi engine civilian ticket, the Army tried to commission him as a Captain to continue flying for them in South East Asia.