Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. EDMO added a post in a topic Fabric Weight (Model III)   

    Jim,
         I guess I missed the "uncertified medium" fabric in spruce - Is it 2.7 and cheaper than the certified?  What is your final shrink temperature on the wings?   The 2.7 certified we got recently shrank a lot more than it seemed like the old stuff did, and Dan Stewart verified our thoughts on that when we bent the root rib on the J3.  He said to keep the temp to max 250F for the Kitfox wing.
    EDMO
    • 0


  2. akflyer added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    ok, its only 64 hp to begin with and I don't want to give up a single pony...  
     

    • 0


  3. akflyerbob added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    Now, that's not very nice .. I built that 582 ....
    • 1


  4. EDMO added a post in a topic 1 degree twist   

    This is where I have some disagreement with the Avid manual which says to locate your strut-spar fittings by placing a vertical post under the strut-fuselage fitting to support the strut - I think that this post should be set at 91 degrees from the spar instead of 90 degrees, and that would place your spar fittings in the right place to give you that 1 degree of dihedral.   Kitfox just gives you a location in inches from the end of the spar, and this is different depending on which model of Kitfox you have.
    EdMO
    • 0


  5. akflyer added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    on wheels I would say yes unless you are at a dry lake bed and you have miles of runway in front of you.. generally on a big lake you have lots of time to get it figured out and set it back down, however, I do fly off a few places that once you put the throttle to the firewall your committed to get off the water or eat the trees.
     

    • 0


  6. EDMO added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    Not being a water-pilot, I would guess that the Catalina would be in the same class as Kitfox, and Ed Downs, in his book, "Flying the Kitfox", warns against doing any high-speed taxi until you are legal and ready to fly.  He states that if you leave the ground, your best option is to continue into the pattern and not try to put it back on the runway until you are ready and set up for a normal landing.
    EDMO
    • 0


  7. turboturner added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Full Lotus survey
    Hi all;
    I am in the process of gathering the hardware to put my KF Classic IV (w/ 912 ULS, GW 1232lbs) on FL 1260s (older generation floats). My only experience has been on Aerocet 1100 amphibs, which I liked but thought they were somewhat under-floated (1200lb KF).

    Anyone out there have much time on FLs, especially recent ones (with the step stiffener plates & sacs)? Any preference on the 1220s, 1260s or the 1450s for my size of machine? Any recommendations, yays or nays?
    I'd appreciate any feedback.
    • 3 replies
    • 821 views


  8. akflyer added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    Larry, the way the radiators are in the cowling, I had to clearance the filler adapter to clear the shaft as it is. No way I have room to run an alternator off the engine. Besides, there is no way I'm gonna do anything that robs more hp from the 582, it's gutless enough I'm hoping this will be enough to make me get off my ass and get the 800 going!


    • 0


  9. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Got the Control surfaces painted, but now the whole FamDamily is headed this way for Christmas! Looks like the engine cowl has to wait until after Christmas! It is kind of a good thing, I can give my shoulders, elbows, and wrists a break from sanding!
    Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you get the plane parts you wished for...

    Ron

    • 0


  10. RDavidson added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    The gear looks good...I like your Magic shoes...
    • 1


  11. RDavidson added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    The high speed taxi test is the dumbest thing the FAA circular for test flying has you do! It puts you right in that area of almost flying and a landing at a high rate of a speed.
    I did the high speed taxi test in my Starduster Too and explored both edges of the runway when I tried to slow down. I got into a PIO with the rudder pedals. After confessing my hair raising event to the Starduster forum a friend on there told me he did the same thing, then confessions came out of the wood work! Just about everyone did the same thing, and most said they would never do a high speed taxi again!
    Looking back, it was inexperience with a short coupled landing gear to Tailwheel distance that caused the high speed swerving...my friend told me to take my shoes off so I could feel the rudder pedals. He was spot on! With my shoes off I could feel that I needed very small inputs and that my shoes were probably hitting the brakes inadvertently. Anyway, a good trick to file away for another day! And if you happen to land in Arkansas your lack of footwear will help you blend right in with the locals! Ha!

    Good on you for filling out the NASA form...I say overload them with paperwork! It might keep them busy in the office instead of out looking to bust somebody!

    I like your plane! It is going to be fun!

    See ya, Ron
    • 0


  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Fabric Weight (Model III)   

    I just got a 70 yd. roll of uncertified medium fabric and 2 2'x4' ( 1/8" and 1/4' )sheets of plywood for rib tails from Aircraft Spruce today. I used that fabric on the last plane I did and am happy with it. Now if I can just kick my lazy rear hard enough to get to work on the planes to use it up. Jim Chuk
    • 0


  13. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    I'm disappointed, Leni.  You're a Q/C guy with a machine shop at your disposal.  There isn't anything that can't be fabricated…  Why not drive a small, single wire alternator off the back side of the through bore on the gearbox?  
     
     
     
    C'mon, Mister, git on it!
    • 1


  14. akflyer added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    Rotax Rick does not have one. I did not try ms power though.  no place to run the pulley on a 582. 
     
    Ed,
     
    I saw an article online about a guy making one out of the electric RC start motor and a prop.. of which I have multiple ones at the house.  Just fab a quick mount, use a prop adapter for an RC electric plane and a diode inline to keep it from back feeding and your in business.  Just have to play with the prop size to get the RPM range I want for cruise power output.  Seems pretty simple and cheap as I have everything at the house to make it with. 
     
    http://www.pipercubforum.com/windgen.htm
     
    When I am running everything in the plane.  GPS, nav, strobe, radio, defrost fans and landing lights, I am pulling a bit over 1.6 amps so everything should work out just perfect. 

    • 1


  15. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    How about a pully driven little alternator. Like off a lawnmower. Plenty of juice.

    Did you try Mississippi power or Rotax Rick for a used one?
    • 0


  16. EDMO added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    Leni,
    You might want to start selling, or post your wind generator plans - there is a guy near me at High Ridge, Mo who sells plans for them at $35 a pop.
    EDMO
    • 0


  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Fabric Weight (Model III)   

    I covered mine in the medium weight.. I beat the brush with mine and so far no rips in the fabric despite my best efforts to tear it up.  I think for me the added weight of a pound was probly a good trade.  A buddy had a MK IV that was covered in the light weight fabric and one good session of dragging the tail in the deep snow had us duct taping some good rips in the fuse.
     
    I was very careful when I was shrinking the fabric and never went over 285 as it started bending tubes after that.  I found out the hard way that when you are covering the rudder and elevator, its kinda smart to cover them, pin them together then shrink the fabric.  I got to cover my elevator and rudder twice cause I shrunk them separate and was NEVER going to get the pins in.
     
    We all know there is more than one way to skin a cat and most ways will work.  Some just keep you from getting clawed as bad as others
     

    • 1


  18. akflyer added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    snogo does not have the dual ignition... only the charge coils went out on mine.  I have everything I need at the house to make the wind driven generator, will just take a couple hours to put it together.  the bonus is it will keep my battery charged when the wind blows too
     

    • 0


  19. EDMO added a post in a topic I'm a Little Twisted, But...   

    since I have changed my ribs to the modified Riblett (Kitfox 4) pattern, I guess I need to measure my HS and Wing incidence before loading it in my little truck to make the 100 mile roundtrip to the welder - got to get new struts welded, and braces for the nose gear, so if incidence needs to be changed to zero, then I might as well start cutting and fitting that too.
    I am just a little confused about my incidence, since I built my wings the old way, with about 1 1/2 inches of washout, but my rear spar attaches about 1" higher than the front spar - got to take some time and figure out how my real incidence compares to the later ones with only 1/2 inch of twist. It may be a lot worse? - but no matter what, it will fly!
    EdMO
    • 0


  20. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    What about a snowmobile stator?
    • 0


  21. EDMO added a post in a topic Fabric Weight (Model III)   

    TJay,
          That's what we are on this site for - to help others and get info we need - sometimes you just have to choose the answer that you think is best for you when there are several to choose from.  I trust that Jim knows a lot about these kits and birds.
    Merry Christmas,
    EDMO
    • 0


  22. akflyer added a post in a topic I'm a Little Twisted, But...   

    I hauled mine over to my buddies house in the back of an old van when I had to rebuild the fuse.  I didnt have good anchor points to pull from so it was saw horses, levels, heat and beat cut out old and weld in new tubes as needed   Some tubes were bucked bad so they ahd to be replaced, but I straightened a lot of the tubes with a hammer and block of wood.
    Nice to see the progress your making on getting the old bird back in the air!
     

    • 0


  23. jackak added a post in a topic Another FNG... Los Angeles Avid B   

    Got it, thanks.
    • 1


  24. EDMO added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    The Russians were using this "Ekronoplane" type watercraft years ago - they even had a huge jet with 6 or 8 engines that flew routes over the Black Sea, but it never got out of ground effect, so technically it was a flying boat.  I made a VHS tape for UAA Aviation class in the 1990's showing every type from what looked like a clipped-wing Cherokee taking off from a concrete ramp to the Huge Jet flying cargo across the Black Sea.
    EDMO
    • 0


  25. akflyer added a post in a topic 1 degree twist   

    Good call only using the 1/2" block.  I seriously wish I would have done that on mine!!  Maybe once I get the 180 back in the air I will bite the bullet and rebuild my wings with only 1/2" washout in them.
     

    • 0