As any pilot knows, balancing your airplane is one of the most important steps in preparation for that first and, if not properly done, maybe last flight. Everyone knows about having to balance your airplane on the "C.G." You either add weight to the nose or to the tail to achieve a slightly nose down attitude. You just can't stop there though, your airplane is still probably out of balance. Let me explain further.
How many times have you been out at the field, flying your new airplane, and it won't track straight. You land it, bring it in, and take a look at it. Everything looks straight, but it still won't track straight, and you sit there wondering what inhuman force is causing this. When this happens to you, ask yourself this question. "Did I balance the airplane laterally?" Lateral balancing of airplanes is just as important as anything else. If one wing tip is heavier than the other, your airplane will not miraculously make up for this. It will cause you fits by not tracking straight and making your airplane more prone to tip stalling. Because of the length of wings, a little weight, way out towards the tip, will make it way out of balance.
THE CURE
No, not the rock band, but the solution to the problem. Begin by first
balancing your airplane on the C.G., with the fuel tank empty. Use kite
string or something similar and attach one length at the bottom, center of
the rear of the fuselage, and one length onto the crankshaft of the engine.
You will have
to remove your prop and spinner. With two people pick up the airplane by
the string. You will notice immediately if your airplane is laterally out
of balance. One wing tip will drop. Add weight to the lighter wing tip
until the airplane rests perfectly level when picked up. You will notice
that because of the length of the wings that not much weight should be
necessary. When you know exactly how much weight is needed, you can bury
the weight in the wing and put a patch of covering over it.