Activity Stream

Activity Stream



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

    Technically, you never left ground effect, the way I see it you were flying a WIG hovercraft.... no ticket or paperwork needed to fly
     

     

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

    Randy, I get home the 30th and will be tied up with the annual lets get stupid and play with explosives festival at the cabin till the 2nd.. Then weather permitting I will be ready to put some hours on the gear and test it out.  I am also not gonna pay the price Rotax wants for a stator, so I am going to make a wind generator to hang under the gear legs to keep the battery topped off.
     

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  3. TJay added a post in a topic 1 degree twist   

    Thanks for the info. sorry spars are 30 outside to outside wasn't sure where I should measure.  I wish I could set the dihedral at 1 degree I'm afraid if I do that my strut will not line up with my lower bracket. with out bending the lower bracket down or bending the strut up ha. and I'm not doing that. 
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  4. SuberAvid added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    Looks good Leni, we need to get out and put them through the paces when you get back next time.
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  5. SuberAvid added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    5 second rule should apply
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  6. EZFlap added a post in a topic Tech Question Avid B Help Please   

    Guys... the wings are not mounted on the airplane. The ribs are on the other side of the garage 
     
    I tried measuring the lower door sill. I had to take an average between the two door sills. Because of the previous damage to the airplane, there is a slight difference between one door sill and the other. (When we un-twisted the fuselage we were only concerned with the wings. Fixing the fuselage so it was perfect would have required the original weld jig in Boise, if it still exists.)
     
    Anyway, with the door sill (average) as close to level as I can get it with a bubble level instead of a digital protractor, I learned that the engine mount lugs on the fuselage are not vertical. So I can't use that for a "plumb line".
     
    I did get enough of an idea from the door sills that I think I can get close to what I want as far as downthrust. All I want is two degrees, but it needs to be there because of torque, P-factor, etc.
     
    I'll invoke the ancient spirits of free flight modelers throughout time, take a whiff of Nitrate dope and castor oil, and take my best shot at it.
     
    The real bitch is going to be taking the fin offset out, because the Franklin turns the right way and the Rotax turned the wrong way. Lil John used VG's on one side of the fin and a big trim tab on the rudder... I'd like to do it more properly than that if I can, but I'm not re-building the entire aft fuselage.
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  7. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Wanted: coolant radiator for 912ULS   

    A plate the is more efficient at heat exchange.  In cross section the "tubes" are flattened oval shaped and stacked on top of one another making the fins part of the coolant passage.
     
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_heat_exchanger
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  8. EDMO added a post in a topic Wanted: coolant radiator for 912ULS   

    Larry,
    What is the difference between a "Plate Type" rad, and whatever they call the old tube and fin type?
    EdMO
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  9. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    Glad they're working so far…  I'll let Dave know you are progressing with them.
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  10. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Wanted: coolant radiator for 912ULS   

    There's a wide variety of sizes of Earl's coolers available from many of the Speed Shops on the net.
     
    http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/earls-performance/department/cooling-heating?SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending
     
    My radiator (Kitfox IV) has a core that is 18" x 4".
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  11. FoxDB added a post in a topic Aluminium wing tanks   

    EDMO,
    I did not build my plane but it looks like the builder did as you said with the plastic wrap. Good point on 6 gal verses 12 gal.
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  12. IFMT added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    Well you know it flies. Now wring it out!
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  13. EDMO added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    Unless you are caught red-faced, it never happened!   Unless, you post a photo for the Feds! 
    EDMO
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  14. TJay added a post in a topic Fabric Weight (Model III)   

    yeah thats great to hear. looks to be stored well, still rolled up tight in boxes it came in. special thanks to Jim for helping take care of the kit.
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  15. EDMO added a post in a topic 1 degree twist   

    The Kitfox manual says to use a 1/2 inch block at the tip of the spar in the newer manuals.
    One degree = .0175 inches per inch - multiply that times center to center of spars, which I believe is 27 1/2 inches, and not 30 inches.
    the dihedral of the wings is also one degree, measured with a .810 or 13/16 inch block on the end of a 4 foot level on the front spar between fuselage and strut.
    EDMO
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  16. TJay added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    1 degree twist
    hey guys kitfox is using 1 degree twist in there wings, at the spars being 30 inches, how tall will that make my block for setting my twist.
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  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Lt Dan got sputzees old leggggs.   

    FWIW, I am not bashing the manufacture too bad on the gear, it appears that they followed the same set up posted by this guy a few years ago... but I don't think that a set of gear being towed down a paved runway or a grass strip is adequate testing for a production gear set up that is being sold as "bush gear"...
     
     
     

    Avid Spring Gear.doc
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  18. akflyer added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    I would have round filed the form... but thats just me .
     
    I still streaks on the water, I would call it a high high speed step taxi
     

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  19. cowlove added a post in a topic Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina   

    ...and it's a good friend who will come find you at the bar and bring you a NASA Form 733
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  20. cowlove added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Accidental takeoff during step-taxi testing in the Catalina
    I was checking the flaperon rigging/balance by doing an extended step taxi at about 5300RPM, and she just hopped right off the water.  By the time I stabilized the attitude, reduced power, and let her back down, she was in the air about 4.5 seconds.   
     
    I was half-smart, and had listened to all the advice to be prepared for inadvertent flight before any high speed taxi.  I had adequate fuel, the plane was mechanically airworthy, and pointed in a reasonable direction.   However, the plane's annual condition inspection had expired, so I filed a NASA form 733 describing the incident. 
     
    ...and then changed into clean underwear
     
    At least I'm not in bad company.  Happens even to the pros-
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYy5CGHbrtk
     
    http://youtu.be/Lrb5vWZSCrs?t=2m29s
     
     

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  21. akflyer added a post in a topic Tech Question Avid B Help Please   

    Dang, my memory was close.. I knew it was a third rib, just forgot which third one it was   Thanks for setting me straight Mr. Chuk!
     
    I hate being wrong but the wife says I am all the time.. I think she is mistaken
     

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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Tech Question Avid B Help Please   

    The manual says use rib that has the middle flaperon hinge on the end of it. They show it on the left side here, I've always used the right side wing cause there is no adjustment in that wing. Here is that page from my MK IV manual. Jim Chuk

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  23. akflyer added a post in a topic Finished and installed fiberglass flaperons. Nice, but I wouldn't do it again.   

    NICE!  damn, this may push me over the edge to go round up Bobs amphib and drag it home...
     

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  24. akflyer added a post in a topic Tech Question Avid B Help Please   

    I would level it side to side across the door sills, and fore n aft using the door sill.  I could be remembering wrong, but I dont think they (engine mount holes) are lined up vertical.  you could pull a few measurements on it and check though.
     

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  25. cowlove added a post in a topic Finished and installed fiberglass flaperons. Nice, but I wouldn't do it again.   

    Home-rebuilt 582 grey head with no updates, C gearbox, RK400 clutch, 70" 3-blade warp drive.   Just looking at the numbers, I thought it would take just the right touch to get it off the water.   However, I took it out for some step taxi work to check the flaperon rigging, and had an accidental 4.6 second flight.  It took right off at about 5300RPM(!)
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