Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. EDMO added a post in a topic SCRATCH BUILDING   

    My advice:
          Go to Costco and buy a can of Coffee for $10 and brew your own - the rest depends on your age, health, circumstances and how much you enjoy flying.   I was in my mid-50's when I got my first Kitfox, but too busy to do much to it - Now I am 73, retired and have health issues. 
    I had this plane finished in Alaska as a stock taildragger in 2001, ready for inspection, but circumstances changed quickly and I had to move to Missouri - In 2007 I sold my house and machine shop in Alaska and the plane fell off of my trailer and got badly banged up, losing one flaperon too. I stripped it, and started modifying it in 2009, and am about 80% done building, then covering and painting.
          I haven't been active, legal or whatever you want to call it, but still get an occasional flight in with a buddy.  I am not sure now that the requirements for certification for the plane or myself are worth the hassle, and maybe will get this bird finished to the point I can sell it before my widow gives it away.
          I can't tell someone else what would suit their needs the most or make their days more enjoyable.  I am a designer, machinist, A&P and like being a builder - but I really miss the freedom of flying by myself in my own plane.
          Life goes by too quickly, so we better make the best of the time we have left.
         Hope this helped.
    EDMO
    Added: I hope I can see this plane fly, or better yet, get to fly it. Maybe I can make that a part of the sale, to get a ride in it?
    EDMO
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  2. Guest added a post in a topic SCRATCH BUILDING   

    My advice (and with $4.50 will buy you a cup of coffee) is:
     
    If you love to fly...buy something already built that is what you want that already flies and tinker with what you bought if you like to tinker.
    If you love to build....build. But don't expect to fly for a long long long time if ever.
     
    Unless of course you have a lot of hangar space and money. Then buy what you want to fly and fly it while build what you want to build when you feel like building. best of both worlds.
     
    I say this because I am personally stuck right now. I am a flyer not a builder even though I am a capable builder and do love to tinker. But right now I have nothing that flies. Two projects..My Magnum I wrecked and needs repair and the "flyer" I bought to fly while working on my Magnum which turned out not to be a flyer after all..... and I am miserable because of it.
     
    Chris
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  3. 6320012s added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    Simonini Victor 2
    I just ran across this engine by accident.  Has anyone heard anything about them?  It looks to be a lot like Leni's 800 idea.  http://simoniniusa.com/?page=Engines&Engine=Victor-2
    • 25 replies
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  4. 6320012s added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?   

    Its been A while since I paid any attention to this thread.   So far I have one wing complete and the other one ready to cover.  Using the Oratex 600 was a piece of cake once I got the hang of shrinking it over aluminum.   (the aluminum on my leading edge sucked up much of the heat, requiring a more aggressive use of the iron)   I am guessing I have no more than 8 hrs covering the one wing, and it looks really good.  My Oratex cost for covering the wings was $3000, but I may have gotten more tape than I really needed since it comes in fixed length rolls.  Hope to get back to it in the next month.   Being the lighter of the two grades, the 600 is certainly not as tough as the 600, but it is still a lot tougher than the ceconite I had before.   I decided to use the 600 on the wings where there is less potential for rock damage.   If I was to do the whole plane, I would probably do 6000 on the belly and underside of tail and do the rest in 600.   For anyone who values his time and doesn't want the wife going on about the fumes, Oratex is great stuff.
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  5. Fly-n-Low added a post in a topic Finally made it!   

    Thanks guys. I'll be workign on mocking up the new gear today.
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  6. cliff added a post in a topic SCRATCH BUILDING   

    Ed,
    I have a mk4 project, I have many modifications I would like to do to it. Stretch the fuselage, flaps, Grove or bush gear, 4 stroke, etc. I don't have time right now to work on it and it is just sitting collecting dust. It will cost 20k to 30k  and hundreds, if not thousands of hours to build it the way I want.  I am at the point where I look at it and still have the dream, but at the same time I realize I could sell it and just buy a finished plane for the same amount of money. I love flying the 2 stroke Avid I have but, I really want a 4 stroke lsa for my brother to get his sport license in. I am at a turning point. Do you have any advice for me?  Would you go down the path of scratch building and modifying again?
    Thanks, Cliff
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  7. TJay added a post in a topic Wing rib modifications   

    where did you get the kitfox 4 wing template I would like to play around with that mod too. also I see the kitfox 4 has a truss design in the rib web, where yours and mine don't do you think that was changed for a reason. and why the leading edge extension? what do you think it will add to performance. Thanks
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  8. TreeTopAirways added a post in a topic Finally made it!   

    Nice! Very Nice
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  9. IFMT added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    Brett supplied my seat truss upgrade, I beam spar stiffener, mark 4 manual and a bunch of other stuff I can't even remember. Always treated me well and no problems. This was a few years back.
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  10. EDMO added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    I see the V ! Cleaned my glasses tonight so I could find my Bud Lite !
    Thanx Jim,

    EDMO
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  11. TreeTopAirways added a post in a topic Removing floats for the winter, putting gear on - information requested   



  12. akflyer added a post in a topic Twisted metal raceing   

    Sumbitch... sounds like Tony is gonna beat me to it. Yeah, that's the shop that developed the rk 400 clutch for the 582. I've bought cranks from him as well, seems to be a good dude.


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  13. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    I was visiting with my Dad today and he mentioned he had gotten a call back from Brett regarding a stretch kit. He had just left a voicemail last week.
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  14. TreeTopAirways added a post in a topic Removing floats for the winter, putting gear on - information requested   

    Thanks Dynomike
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  15. Jbird added a post in a topic Iron design tailwheel   

    Thanks for the info
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  16. sioux201 added a topic in Two Strokes   

    Twisted metal raceing
    Has anybody delt with then?
    They will have a conversion kit to install a c box to a 4 bolt PTO on 800 engines!!!!
    • 2 replies
    • 847 views


  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    At a quick glance, the further V tube blends into the door post on that side, but it's there. But I can make it disappear if I take my glasses off. ;-) Jim Chuk
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  18. akflyer added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Ummm, I see a v like all the rest of the planes. You need new glasses or less bud light

    She is looking good and getting closer to the air every day!


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  19. akflyer added a post in a topic Finally made it!   

    Damn, that is a great looking plane! Keep the flight reports etc coming. Looking forward to seeing/hearing more about your plane and adventures.


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  20. saskavid added a post in a topic Finally made it!   

    a beautiful plane!!!What else can be honestly said. Thanks for sharing!!
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  21. EDMO added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Ron,
    Paint looks good - Something don't look right to me at the Windsheild area - I only see one diagonal brace, and every other plane I have seen had two, usually in a "V" or making an "X" ??
    EdMO
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  22. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    For the record: Brett IS one of the nicest, most helpful people I know.

    He is also probably one of the worst businessmen I know, too. By that I don't mean dishonest or crooked, just really, really bad at communicating.
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  23. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Well, I finally got some color on it!
    I like the Superflite topcoat...easy to paint! Of course I screwed it up right off the bat, but that is normal for me!
    You want to thin it with Superflite's reducer, but a little to much reducer makes it run. Not enough reducer you get Orange peel.


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  24. Fly-n-Low added a topic in Introduce yourself   

    Finally made it!
    Thanks Akflyer for the help. My new Vaio Win8 crashed shortly after I joined and I lost everything!!!   Thankfully I had most of it backed up on an external drive.
     
    Anyway, here are pics of my M-IV with a 582 for power. It sat for 12 years or so before I bought it. Had to replace all the rubber and completely redo the fuel system. Bush gear will be the next mod. plus the multi leaf tailspring.
     
     
     


    • 9 replies
    • 1,944 views


  25. Fly-n-Low added a post in a topic Status of Airdale   

    Well I ordered a set of Bush gear from him. Talked to him on the phone. Seems like a nice fellow. But he is way short on communication. It took almost 3 mo to the day I made a Paypal payment to him. The gear looks line. Cleaning and deburring it now as it sits on my work bench. Nothing personal against him, but like I said, a bit more communication would go a long, long way. I was considering a new kit as it is so much more advanced but I have to reconsider....
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