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Adding to the list

As noted in my previous post, my landing light isn't working anymore. The most likely reason is that the bulb simply burned out. It's an OG incandescent bulb. I don't know how old it is; I could probably go through the logs to see if it was ever replaced but I don't feel like it right now.

I called up the shop and added this to the list of items to be addressed when they can get to it. I also inquired as to whether or not it makes sense to upgrade it to an LED bulb. As I understand it, there are LED bulbs available that are drop-in replacements. They cost a few hundred dollars, whereas a regular incancescent bulb is less than twenty. At some point in the next day or two the shop manager should be giving me a call so we can discuss the options.

On an unrelated topic, I forgot to mention something in my previous post. My flight with my wife was the first time I used shot bags I purchased for ballast. With my wife and me in the front seats, and 40 gallons of fuel in the tanks, the CG is actually forward of the limit without the ballast.

Here's a link at the manufacturer's website:

Wake Ballast 25-lb. steel shot bag

As you can see in the images, each twenty-five-pound bag is essentially divided in half, with a handle attached at the middle divider, and a velcro strap on the bottom that holds them together. I detached the velcro straps and opened them up so they lay flat. The velcro on the straps stuck nicely to the carpet in the baggage compartment to help hold them in place. I placed them at the rear of the baggage compartment for maximum effect.

As far as I can tell, they worked quite well. I had no issues with pitch at any point in the flight. On landing, where you'd expect a nose-heavy condition to be most apparent, I had no problem pitching up into the flare and holding it up as we touched down.

I will still take them out when flying by myself, or if we're flying to a destination with a sufficient weight in baggage. But for day trips or shorter flights, it's nice to be able to have her in the front with me and not need her to sit in the rear.

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