Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic PLASTIC STRUT FAIRINGS?   

    I was looking at a Challenger II in a buddy's hangar the other day and noticed some fairly cook plastic (PVC?) farings over the lift struts.  Might be something worth looking into...
    • 0


  2. EDMO added a post in a topic PLASTIC STRUT FAIRINGS?   

    Leni,
        As I said, " I plan to use aluminum sheet on my struts".
    Thanks,
    EDMO
    • 0


  3. akflyer added a post in a topic PLASTIC STRUT FAIRINGS?   

    Ed,
     
    Time and again, no matter the prep, unless you live in the desert, it has been proven that these struts do corrode and do have issues when you put the wood fairing on them.  Mine were HAMMERED and I think I have pics of them on the site some place. 
     
    I used the kitfox plastic fairings and they are just snapped on and I have a few wraps of gorilla tape at the lower end to hold them from twisting for the most part.  This was meant to be a quick fix when I put them on just to see if the weight gain of the heavy plastic fairings was worth it... I have been too damn lazy to put on the aluminum sheet that was supplied with the kit to fix them right.  One of these days I may clean it up and get rid of the gorilla tape
     
    A few dabs of silicone or 5200 was my plan for permanently holding them in place as EZ suggested.
     

    • 0


  4. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2   

    A 912 will weigh 165-175 pounds installed with all accessories, radiator, coolant, exhaust, etc.
     
    You can find used 80 hp 912 engines fairly often.  I've seen them as low as $4000.  Install a big bore Zipper kit and you have new pistons and cylinders, with 100+ HP.
    • 0


  5. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Elevator Cord Increase?   

    I just finished this mod. Worth every penny. EZflap in response to your reply in my thread this was not a random size increase that I dreamnt up it's an exact match to the Avid MK4. The Avid and Kitfox both made the tail feathers bigger in the later models to improve handling. You will understand why John riveted extensions onto his after you fly one.

    http://www.avidfoxflyers.com/index.php?/topic/3038-avid-b-model-to-mk4-elevator-upgrade/
    • 1


  6. Goldendale-flyer added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2   

    Well that thread degenerated quickly. I am currently looking for a 4 stroke engine that will deliver 100 hp. I am not opposed to trying something different, but I want to fly not tinker. Weight is a big deal. The viking engine looks good but it is heavy. What does a rotax 912uls really weigh installed? I mean radiator, coolant, oil, exhaust, everything.
    • 1


  7. EZFlap added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    Sorry to hear that, but I understand completely.
    • 0


  8. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    THe unfortunate situation, I believe, is that he gets little support for the business at home. From what I've seen its as though his wife doesn't see this as a real business only playtime in the shop for him. Brett is deathly afraid to grow the business at all, which is what is required in order to make it work for real.

    He does what he does and that's all he wants to do.
    • 1


  9. akflyer added a post in a topic Painting the cargo bay   

    Heck yeah its looking good.  I am liking the forward progress.  Maybe seeing your getting closer ChrisB will get fired up and get back to working on his
     

    • 1


  10. akflyer added a post in a topic Elevator Cord Increase?   

    If you get the CG back to around 17-18" there is no need to increase the elevator size.. and the plane flys faster and better all the way around.
     

    • 0


  11. High Country added a post in a topic Painting the cargo bay   

    looks great, no one is ever going to notice a little "texture" in the cargo bay anyways. keep up the good work
    • 1


  12. EDMO added a post in a topic Painting the cargo bay   

    Ron,
    There was an article written about following the roller with a foam brush to smooth the bubbles - But I imagine there would be more paint on my arms and elbows than on the cargo bay. Looks like a storage tube behind it?
    EdMO
    • 1


  13. EDMO added a post in a topic Elevator Cord Increase?   

    My model 1 and 2 both measured smaller than the IV-1200. I also increased the VS and Rudder to same height as the 1200 and increased the cord on both when I built the Foxy.
    EDMO
    • 0


  14. LSaupe added a post in a topic Elevator Cord Increase?   

    Hi EDMO.  Its a Model III (which measures the same as a friends Model IV-1200)
     
    I see Kitfox sells a larger elevator for the Lite2 (trigear) and offers it for the others.  Anyone familiar with this one?
     
    ***************************************************************************************************************************
     
     
    Enlarged Elevator Model 3, 4 and Lite2 (squared)   Designed for the tri-gear version of the Kitfox Lite2, but suitable for earlier Kitfox’s this new  Elevator improves flare authority with a full flap, forward CG condition.      Part #: Part #51018.201 
    • 0


  15. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    Being a small businessman myself, I've offered to help him several times pro-bono on messages, phone work anything he needs.  I know Brett and he knows me and I live 20 miles from him.
     
     
    He said no, thank you.
     
     
    I invite you to follow up on your offer.  Maybe he would be interested in help from someone from your neck of the woods...
    • 1


  16. EZFlap added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2   

    US car companies are the ones who gave us "planned obsolescence", selling an expensive car that was known to fall apart within five or ten years. Craftsman and Snap-On wrenches never did that. 
     
    I'm old enough to remember the poor reliability of 1980's Chrysler cars, the Ford Pinto explosions, and other historical tidbits. The quality and reliability of the five Honda cars I've owned is unmatched. The US automobile industry had a 50 year lead on the Japanese auto industry... they should have been so far ahead in quality that cheaper import cars were just not desirable.
     
    But the car companies didn't squander their monopoly all by themselves... our labor unions helped drive nails in the coffin too.
     
    I'm sure this is getting too far off-topic, so I'll shut my pie-hole
    • 1


  17. RDavidson added a post in a topic Painting the cargo bay   

    Well, I decided to paint the inside of the cargo bay anyway. Luckily I had the fuselage on a rotisserie so I flipped it upside down and got into it from underneath. It turned out smooth and shiny.
    The part behind the seats was tough because all of the crossing tubes, so I used a small foam roller. It turned out rough because the foam roller introduced a lot of air bubbles, but at least it is all one color!

    Ron



    • 3


  18. EDMO added a post in a topic PLASTIC STRUT FAIRINGS?   

    I thought about making mine out of aluminum sheet, using some type of Adel clamp setup at top and bottom, and sealing with GE Silicone II - that way, when you unbolt the clamp, you should be able to slide the fairings off of the upper end of the strut for inspections. But, if you blast the struts, and use a good epoxy primer and epoxy paint, then there should not be any corrosion to look for.
    EDMO
    • 0


  19. EDMO added a post in a topic Elevator Cord Increase?   

    Forgot what model you have - the early Kitfoxes and Avids were designed not to have enough elevator to break into a power-off hard stall, and did not have enough to flare without adding power - using flaperons aggravated this condition even more - the later models increased the cord of both the VS and elevator.
    I added 6" to both for my nose-heavy, big flaps, Foxy along with one manual trim tab and an automatic flap tab.  Not ready for test flights yet.
    EDMO
    • 0


  20. EZFlap added a post in a topic PLASTIC STRUT FAIRINGS?   

    Instead of Hysol or JB Weld, I would like to humbly suggest using RTV silicone sealer or "shoe goo". You need to be able to remove the fairings every few years to inspect for corrosion, or cracks, or replace hardware, etc. If you epoxy the fairings onto the struts then you will be very very un-willing to remove the fairings later for routine long-term maintenance. If you hold the fairings on with a blob of Shoe Goo every 12 inches, you can carefully slice through the glue and remove the fairings without too much bloodshed..
    • 0


  21. EZFlap added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    I'm the !($#* new guy here, definitely ain't made my bones yet, but I will make an offer to help with something he may need or want. I'm reasonably good with advertising, promotions, business communications, business and contract proposals, brochures, instruction manuals, web content, sales materials, etc. Anyone with way too much time on their hands can see samples of all this stuff at my writing services website www.grantstar.net . 
     
    The consensus seems to be that the owner of Airdale is a good guy, means well, and wants to stay around. The consensus also seems to be that he's not good with communications, and may need some business assistance. Within the parameters of what I'm good at, I'd be happy to offer some pro bono help with any of his written materials, ad/marketing/sales written stuff, general business communications, etc. I'm a fairly good salesman, and someone had made a post in this thread along the lines of "with the right salesman..."
     
    However, I don't know him, he doesn't know me, and we're about 1500 miles apart. So I'll leave it up to the wise old elders of this forum, and people who know him, to determine whether any of this would (or should) be of interest to him. If this offer is over-stepping or inappropriate then please someone let me know so I don't insult or embarrass anyone.
     
    This offer would also extend to any person or persons who buys Airdale, or goes into business building parts, kits, or airplanes related to the Avid/Kitfox series.
    • 1


  22. LSaupe added a topic in Kitfox III   

    Elevator Cord Increase?
    I will be installing an elevator trim system prior to covering.  I also had a suggestion to increase the cord length of the elevator by 4" to help with slow speed authority (especially with flaps depolyed).
     
    Worth the trip and has anyone here done this mod?
    • 13 replies
    • 1,548 views


  23. LSaupe added a post in a topic 0 time Kitfox II with Full Lotus Floats and traditional gear   

    Unfortunately I don't know the answers to your questions (just the messenger).  If interested, I am sure the owner could fill you in quickly.
     
    I do know he took the new engine and sent it out for an overhaul to one of the Rotax service centers to make sure it was fresh (as it had been in storage for a long time prior to kit completion).  Not sure when that was however.
    • 0


  24. Fly-n-Low added a post in a topic Iron design tailwheel   

    Love this thread. I know which tail wheel to order now! The solid 6" Maule seems to shake the tail apart!
    • 1


  25. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2   

     
     
    Like reliability and an economical fuel burn?
     
    You'd rather have constant tinkering, twice the fuel burn, stinking like 2-stroke oil, cold seizing and engine out crash-landings...
     

     
     
     
    I work on cars for a living, so don't try to impress me with the all Asian cars are superior BS, because that's a total line of crap.  
    (Don't misinterpret that as me saying domestic cars are superior.  Far as I'm concerned most all of them are made for shit.)
    • 1