Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. akflyer added a post in a topic Fuselage Cleaning (Inside)   

    WD40 works wonders at taking off the chalk on an old paint job too.  spray a little on a clean rag and it wipes the chalk off and leaves it nice and shiny.  A good wash (I use the meguires car wash soap) and she look WAY better.
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  2. akflyer added a post in a topic Beginner Take Offs and Landings   

    Dusty is spot on, that long float is from too much speed.  I too like to stay high in the pattern even when flying a tight one.  After having a few engine outs on various planes I have learned I can slip hard and make the runway, but I damn sure can't stretch the glide to make it.  If your using less that half to 3/4 rudder in the slip your leaving a lot on the table.  I can slip and drop out of the sky at better than 2000 fpm at 50 mph and still have a little energy for the flare, but I normally add a touch of power to smooth it out unless I am on a one way gotta get it down no matter how ugly strip. 
    One thing about mine though is with the clutch, when I pull power to an idle, its a HUGE air brake out front so between that, the 6" extended gear and the big tires, I am pretty much out of options in a glide other than that which is damn near directly below me   OK not quite that bad, but much more sink than a standard avid or KF.
    Nothing will help your pattern or approach speed more than putting gas through those tanks and just getting to where you dont even look at the ASI your just head out of the cockpit and flying by the seat of your pants.  You don't even think about what your doing, you just do it.  That my friend only comes with time and practice.  Keep it up, in your case, I would rather spend a little time floating down the runway than to come up short on an engine out. 
    Are you using flaps? 

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  3. KFfan added a post in a topic Playing at the new airport   

    I know a few poor old farmers. One collects about $800K a year of our money...
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  4. Knuckledragger added a post in a topic Joey's flying channel   

    My New favorite channel!  Keep'm coming Joey - its fun to see what I may some day be able to do
     
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  5. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Flaperon behavior in a stall   

    Instrument Meteorological Conditions....In the clouds with no visual reference to the horizon. A recipe to kill yourself without the proper equipment and training.
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  6. Knuckledragger added a post in a topic Flaperon behavior in a stall   

    Guys,
    What is 'IMC'?
    FWIW, my Mark 4 extended speedwing simply breaks and drops a few degrees and starts flying again.  Power on stalls yield the aforementioned descending mush.
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  7. KFfan added a post in a topic Liability Insurance   

    Wish I had known that before I went with Falcon. 68% of my quote!
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  8. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Bush Gear   

    Every time I look at my gear it doesn't make sense to me either on how it works. It was not until we deflated my shocks and I got to see everything move in slow mo that my brain grasped what they were doing. If you are only planning on gravel, grass, or pavement those springs will be fine. Be advised "Bush Gear" is the WRONG name for this gear in it's stock form. It should of just been called wide gear, or bungee eliminator gear or something. Mine folded up like a pretzel the first time I landed off airport with less than 30 hrs on it. The rock in the pic was not a factor we set it up on there to keep the wing tip out of the dirt during the rescue process.  At least some of it was my fault but I've landed on MUCH worse stuff than that with my bungee gear.  At least you have the updated version that has the bar between the front and rear leg. The early Airdale version didn't have that and that's right where my front gear leg folded up.

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  9. KFfan added a post in a topic Vans Lawsuit   

    There will never be true Tort Reform as long as the lawyers are writing the laws...'Nuf Said
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  10. KFfan added a post in a topic Dark or Light color for the top half of cowling?   

    I always have problems with pieces of metal catching in the buffer pad when I polish the redish-orange areas
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  11. wypaul added a post in a topic Bush Gear   

    The lower part of the gear strut compresses the spring from the top,thus allowing the legs to spread under load.
    I have been using the. Bush gear for over 300 hrs now and see no signs of the springs bottoming out with some pretty hard landings.  The fuselage sides and the gear truss do need to be re-enforced as discussed in the past on this site.  Mine came from highwing llc so are slightly different.  I did have some problems before adding the frame strengthing members and the gear Crossmember modified.  If I think of it I will install a tattletale to show the actual movement in the spring. Paul
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  12. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Nice Kitfox   

    Not the same size or located inserts. Strut attachment brackets are different. Flapperon hangars and ribs are totally different, not compatible with the V control system.
    Putting 85 mph wings on a 120 mph airplane is very, very ill advised.
     
    Do do what you want but this is a ludicrous idea.  I'll have nothing else to say about it. 
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  13. Knuckledragger added a post in a topic Bush Gear   

    Looking good!  Did you fabricate them yourself?  Its weird and I'm still drinking my first cup of joe, but in my head it appears that if the gear legs are pushed upward as in adding weight/load, the springs would stretch.  Am I just looking at it wrong?
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  14. Knuckledragger added a post in a topic Beginner Take Offs and Landings   

    Guys, thanks for the great feedback. 
    Pattern entry altitude at this field is 1000 AGL.  Generally base to base/final I cut power to idle, and am usually at around 700.  I'll try tightening the pattern some and see what that yields.  I like to know how far I can "glide" in from.
    The last couple of landings on the video I glide base and final and still fwd slip pretty hard on short final to get the threshold where I want it.
    Dusty: I'll do some more slow flight at altitude to see if 45-55 gets better results in my plane.  What I think hear you saying also is approach it like a soft field landing and come in slow (less energy) and give it a touch of power as I rotate for the float to keep it up with the stick instead of using energy from the glide to keep it floating in ground effect.
    I'll work on these suggestions and report back!
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  15. TJay added a post in a topic Playing at the new airport   

    We need a new airport because at or other two close by we are land locked and no room to add on.there is a twenty person waiting list for hangers this one should help, And touching your wheels down in a Sioux County Farmers field around here will result in a huge law suite and you will loose. They are very greedy and money hungry here. There is very few good old farmers around here that are just happy do be doing what they love to do anymore, they have given most of the land to there entitled kids. Sorry if this offends anyone.
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  16. LSaupe added a post in a topic Flaperon behavior in a stall   

    Thanks All.  I have the oversized elevator so anticipate I may see more of a stall behavior but wont push an insane angle of attack (should it try to go there).  Undercamber wing as well.
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  17. LSaupe added a post in a topic Liability Insurance   

    Thanks All.  Will check them out. As a reference, First Flight has liability 1M at $461 a year.
    http://www.firstflightinsurance.com/Site/375021952/airsports.asp
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  18. Dusty added a post in a topic Beginner Take Offs and Landings   

    I am not an instructor so take this as an opinion only and get advice from an instructor .
    I am not a fan of the long flat approach,if the fire goes out at the wrong time you may have a bad day
    try (at altitude first)getting on the back of the drag curve.
    if you are currently on final at 60kts and getting 500fpm decent try 45-45 kts you will get a slightly higher sink rate and a much steeper approach,your airspeed will be easier to control using the stick,be prepared to give a stab of power on round out if the sink is a little high(kitfoxes and Avids can run out of elevator at this point)
    Now imagine an engine failure over those trees,check forward get back on the "step"a flatter decent,you will most likely get to the runway
    this is how I was taught,it works for my plane.
    your plane/approach speeds may be quite different.
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  19. EDMO added a post in a topic Bush Gear   

    Are those the springs that either Akflyer or C5Engineer said that they didn't have enough travel and would bottom out?
    EDMO
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  20. EDMO added a post in a topic Nice Kitfox   

    I cant argue about the difference in flaperon hangers, although the earlier wings can be changed to use the KF4 and later hangers.
    How are the 3 wings lighter than the 4 or 5?  They still use the same .065 wall spars and inserts, and same rib spacing - the struts and fuselage parts got thicker on the 5, but the strut attachment point on the 3 is the same spacing as the 4 and 5 wings.
    EDMO
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  21. allonsye added a post in a topic Flaperon behavior in a stall   

    This is one of those very useful pearls, likely the best I've heard on any of the aviation forums in quite some time.  Thanks for sharing it Joey.
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  22. allonsye added a post in a topic Fuselage Cleaning (Inside)   

    WD40 I've found to be a less volatile but just as effective petrochemical comparable cleaner to gasoline I must say.
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  23. EDMO added a post in a topic Beginner Take Offs and Landings   

    I know that the long pattern gives you more time to get set up for touchdown, but try shortening your pattern as you get more practice.  Sometimes there are restrictions that wont let you have a long pattern and final approach.
    I routinely turn on final at about 400 agl unless there are other reasons to go higher or lower.
    EDMO
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  24. Fly-n-Low added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Bush Gear
    Jacked up and secure. Trial fit.


    I need to take new pics of the gear now. Everything is powder coated white with red powder coated springs. Struts are coated internally with a compound similar to teflon, inside and out. As are all the brake caliper mounts and bushings.
    I apologize for my absence... and promise to show up on a semi regular basis???
    • 11 replies
    • 1,062 views


  25. Knuckledragger added a topic in Avid fox flyers pics and vids   

    Beginner Take Offs and Landings
    I've been working on take offs and landings the last couple of days.  Here is video compilation showing the first few and then later as things got better.  Please be critical where needed.  I welcome the feedback.
    https://youtu.be/eo_ioshpxvI
     
    • 9 replies
    • 1,253 views