[fixer]

Originally Posted by davidmc36

Maybe a better term is "Longitudinal Center of Balance"

After all, isn't that the thing we are most interested in, to be sure that the "object in question is balanced with respect to (all) applied forces."?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_of_balance

But we usually just abbreviate it "COG"

"All", applied forces is the key. Longitudinal (end to end) force is only one component. Transverse (side to side) and Vertical (Depth, or top to bottom) forces have to be taken into account too. These are 2 dimensional balance points. Each of these 3 dimensions are a component of CofG (3 dimensional). I found this link to the same terms as they apply to a vessel in water. http://www.neely-chaulk.com/narciki/...tre_of_Gravity It's another way of looking at the same forces.

It would seem that the only reason we need to determine where the CofG is, is so that we can adjust it to be within a certain distance of the Neutral point which then trims the plane to fly the best that it can for what it was designed for.

I think post #2 by Terry J, is it in a nutshell. Once you understand the reasoning, just get it done the simplest way.

[davidmc36]

Originally Posted by fixer

...Once you understand the reasoning, just get it done the simplest way.

Which is what likely 75% of modelers do. Test only for Longitudinal Center of Balance.

Another 20% likely test for Transverse Center of Balance.

But 99% use the term CoG.

So long as somebody else has designed the plane so the actual CoG is in the right spot the simple measurement of LCoB is really all we need. Correct TCoB will eliminate the need for counteracting roll trim.

This probably reads better if I remove the (all) that I added.

"object in question is balanced with respect to (all) applied forces."?

[fixer]

Originally Posted by davidmc36

Which is what likely 75% of modelers do. Test only for Longitudinal Center of Balance.

Another 20% likely test for Transverse Center of Balance.

But 99% use the term CoG.

So long as somebody else has designed the plane so the actual CoG is in the right spot the simple measurement of LCoB is really all we need. Correct TCoB will eliminate the need for counteracting roll trim.

As long as they understand that the CofG is being adjusted with respect to the Neutral point to make the plane recover to level flight after any change in pitch, and to recover from stall, or not, yeh, it's that simple.