Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. EDMO added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    Ron,
    I am not aware that there are plastic wing tanks available for any Avid or Kitfox, just header tanks, and some plastic inserts that go in the fiberglass tanks.
    EdmO
    • 0


  2. lv2plyguitar added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    Okay, I have posted the pictures up top.  Please comment on construction and the tanks.  The wing is a single strut system. 
     
    Here is the description of the wing construction I found on the Blue Yonder website.
     
    Wing construction on the Merlin is very sturdy and rugged. The leading edge is built of 2024T6 aircraft aluminum. The strong 9" aluminum "I"-beam main spars (O.080" laminated) and wing leading edges ("D-cells") are completely pre-built by the Merlin Aircraft factory. The wing ribs are constructed by the builder, using high-density foam for lightweight and strength. These easily assembled ribs are capped with heavy-duty 0.040" aluminum "U" channels. These "U" channel rib caps are joined from top to bottom of the rib by 1 " straps of aluminum. There is no structural wood in the aircraft anywhere, thus eliminating the worry of rot and the eventuality of warping. Foam has been chosen because of its durability. Fewer ribs are required due to the exceptional rigidity they provide, simplifying construction and installation. The foam ribs can be repaired, if necessary, much more easily and affordably than either wood or aluminum stamping. Slotted full span ailerons have been incorporated into the design, resulting in excellent slow flight control and a responsive roll rate. The aileron horns are made of heavy aluminum and have never experienced any cracking or in-flight failures. The ailerons are controlled by push rods inside the cockpit, not by cables in the wing. This system eliminates high maintenance pulleys, hardware, bell cranks and control cables. The aileron control rods are easily accessible for routine inspection. Combined with the pre- fabricated "D" cells and aluminum capped foam ribs, these simple wings are the key to the Merlin GT's well established 350 hour quick build time. Each Merlin GT also comes with simple "folding-wing" capability, to facilitate trailering and road transport.

    • 0


  3. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Wing strut covering?   

    Look at the struts Univair makes for the pipers. Aero shaped tubing.

    IMO this stuff would work great for lift struts, with the exception of its extreme cost.
    • 1


  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    I was just all over the IVO website, and didn't find the answer, but then I remembered that I should have the paperwork that came with my IVO prop somewhere.  Can't believe it but I found it right away!  Anyway, here is what it says, word for word:  The only time you need to lock the screw adjuster with lock nut is when you pitch the prop between neutral and two turns pitch decrease, in all other pitch setting screw adjuster stays where you leave it without a jam nut.  That was the second bullet point on page one, the fourth bullet point also deals with the lock nut, and it says:  Put safety wire through the hole in the screw adjuster to stop the  jam nut from falling off and into the prop in case it would loosen up.  Unless they have changed their opinion of it those same directions should come with your new prop.  I couldn't help my self though, and always tightened up the lock nut but didn't torque it down as much as you would expect for that large of a nut.  A flying buddy of mine stripped his lock nut fairly easy once by cranking on it like you would think it would need.   Jim Chuk
    • 1


  5. High Country added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Looking good Ron!!  As you now know this is a very rewarding part of the whole build. I like that the primer is white should save you some time and weight in the end. Using the Stewarts system I had to paint white over the gray primer just to paint it yellow again. with your white primer it would save you this extra step. keep the pics coming you will be in the air in no time. I can't wait to hear how those wing tips effect flight and what gains you get from them. keep up the nice work .
    • 1


  6. High Country added a post in a topic Cliff's plane pictures   

    Congrats that's Awesome!!!! good luck with the business
    • 0


  7. High Country added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    Thanks for the input. I had a two blade ivo on my old skyraider and loved it that is partly why I chose to go this route again. Thanks for the heads up leni on the wrench but I already have a whole shop (used to be a self employed fabricator/mechanic) so should be good there. How much torque is required to lock the nut? Might be worth having a thick piece of aluminum cut at a machine shop to make a light weight wrench to carry along. I live high in the mountains and it would be nice to be set for climb when leaving on a CC but could be beneficial to adjust it to a more cruise setting along the way. thoughts??? as per the A box maybe I'm just remembering wrong.... darn now you have me curious I will have to dig it out this weekend and check just for my own curiosity. glad I'm not a cat.
     
    -Robert- 
    • 0


  8. RDavidson added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    I just looked at one of the Sonex plastic tanks and it is really nice! I can see why they switched, it sits right over your legs, bad place for a leak!
    The plastic looks like the same stuff the kitfox is using and the other plastic tanks guys are using in the Avids.
    I think I would go plastic. They are now ethanol friendly and flexible.
    I used the fiberglass tanks in my Magnum, but only because the original builder had already glassed them in, otherwise, starting from scratch, I would have used plastic.

    Good luck,
    Ron
    • 0


  9. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Well I have everything primed except for the fuselage and I have to say that this Superflite primer is some cool stuff! It is very forgiving! I have put it on a little to thick in an area or two and instead of drying in ripples or something it actually settles out flat and looks good! Sanding is very easy and you can easily sand a drip off of it. I also had dropped some sweat on it and the paint underneath dried smoothly and only a light dirty spot remained on the surface, which sanded off with 400 grit.
    The only trouble I had in the beginning was selecting the proper needle and nozzle for my spray gun. I found that 1.4 works the best with their recommended thickness of paint/reducer.
    The primer has UV block in it, so it is one less coating than Polyfiber (Polybrush and Polyspray). Superflite claims that you can directly spray their Primer on fiberglass, as long as it is not Gel coated, and it will fill pinholes. I found that it doesn't fill pinholes well at all, so you will have to use some filler to get the pinholes smoothed out.
    Aluminum pieces have to be treated and coated with epoxy primer, then you can paint the Superflite top coat.

    I just purchased the 3 gallons of Piper Cub Yellow, 1 quart of Intense Black, 2 quarts of catalyst, and 1 gallon of reducer and it cost me a little over $1400!!! So, I think Superflight costs almost double of what Polyfiber would cost.

    I have been disappointed with some mistakes in there instruction manual. However, they always get materials to me in just a couple of days when I order and they are friendly and knowledgeable. But a big downside has been the lack of info on their website which they have had "under construction" for over a year. Now there website is one page saying that a new website is coming soon! It really makes me wonder if they are going to close the doors anyday now!

    Anyway, I hope this info will help the next guy! I'll let you know how the top coat goes.



    • 1


  10. RDavidson added a post in a topic Wing strut covering?   

    Mark,

    My landing gear on my Starduster Too is made of the aerodynamic 4130 tubing. I don't know how thick the walls are? It has held up since 1975 and survived some pretty good abuse, of course not by me other less skilled pilots of course! I would think the weight would be close to the same as the tube with the wood fairing and be a lot stronger too. I wonder if anyone uses that tubing for struts on other planes?
    I'll look around...I would like to know why or why not...

    Ron
    • 0


  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    If my memory is correct, I was talking to Steve Beeaty (airscrew performance) years ago, and he said that some 3-1 gears were made, but they don't fit in any just any A or B box. I believe he said there had to be a bump out in the casting for the 3-1 gears to fit. The reason I questioned it in my earlier post, was I never heard of anyone having one. I did just look in my LEAF catalog, and can't see the bump out I'm remembering Steve mentioning. Also, they don't list 3-1 gears, just the 3 different ratios I mentioned. Jim Chuk
    • 0


  12. EDMO added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    Dave,
    My fg tanks in my KF1&2 were set in GE Silicone 2 - I used it on the new one too.
    EDMO
    • 0


  13. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Cliff's plane pictures   

    Awesome!!!

    Now we need gps coordinates and a date for the party!
    • 0


  14. cliff added a post in a topic Cliff's plane pictures   

    It's a done deal. My wife and I are the owners of Circle W airport.
    • 2


  15. akflyer added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

     
    Unless someone had a machinist make those gears for the A box, it can't be a 3:1 ratio.  The only ratios Rotax had on the A and the B box are 2.0:1, 2.238:1 and 2.58:1.  The 3:1 gears did not come out till the C and E boxes and those gears are not interchangeable with the earlier boxes.
     
    I am sure your going to like the IVO as its just a matter of loosening up the lock nut and using a screwdriver or some other round bar through the end of the shaft and tweaking in a little more or less pitch.  Shoot for around 6150 or 6200 on the ground and it should give you right around 6500 on take off and climb.  6500 is the max HP rpm and that RPM gives me the best climb.  If your EGTS go up too high in cruise, then tweak in just a tad more pitch.  For my flying (when I only had a ground adjust) I went for take off and climb, and enjoyed the extra few minuted it took me to get somewhere if I was going CC.
     
    I can't remember, but I think the jam nut on the shaft is 1 1/8" or 1 1/4".  You may call IVO to make sure so you have a socket or end wrench to fit it when it shows up.  I think it was the only size I didn't have so I had to make a run to town to get a new wrench in the middle of the swap.
     

    • 0


  16. lv2plyguitar added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    I will take a picture of my wing without the cover and you can comment on the construction and how the tanks are situated.  I am completely unfamiliar with a Merlin GT so everything is new to me.
    • 0


  17. FoxDB added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    My Kitfox I/II has aluminum Tanks, It has 700 Hours on the airframe and no leakage. The tanks are set with RTV I believe this was to prevent the flexing issue.
    Dave
    • 0


  18. wypaul added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    I think you will like the Ivo, it takes two minutes to adjust and one and a half minutes of that is taking off and replacing the spinner if you use one.
    • 0


  19. marksires added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    Sonex switched from Aluminum to plastic.  The owner called it the biggest safety improvement they'd ever made......
    Mark
    • 0


  20. EDMO added a post in a topic Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks   

    I think a lot of the choices have to do with your spar construction - Evidently the Avids and Foxes wings flex more and the aluminum tanks don't last - However, there are thousands of Pipers, Maules, Champs, and so on, flying with aluminum tanks in the wings without any problems.
    How are the spars made in your Merlin wings?
    EDMO
    • 0


  21. High Country added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    Thanks for all the input. I'm currently running a B box with 2.58:1 gears and i will stick with this for now. I was just stating that I also have an A box w 3.0:1 gears if it were better to use these gears in the B box. I just put a 68" 3 blade ultralight ground adjust on the visa. should be here in the next two weeks. sounds like I'm grounded again for a couple weeks. 
     
    Thanks again for all your help
    • 0


  22. lv2plyguitar added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Aluminum vs Plastic Fuel Tanks
    I am going to begin rebuilding my Merlin GT very soon.  The Merlin has an aluminum tank in each wing.  From your experiences which is a better tank. Plastic or ALuminum.  I have read some stories of seams splitting on aluminum tanks.
     
    Thanks





    • 23 replies
    • 4,277 views


  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    I think if you run a 3 blade IVO with 3-1 ratio, you should have the knurled plates on the prop hub, and also make sure to run pieces of stainless tape across where the blades touch. If the tape gets cracks between the blades, that will show you have movement of the blades. That is not a good thing. Jim Chuk
    • 0


  24. cliff added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    Thanks for the reply.
    • 0


  25. akflyer added a post in a topic Prop selection Rotax 582 grayhead w B box 2.58:1   

    I have a C box on mine and I swapped back and forth a few times from 2.62:1 to 3:1  I get the best performance out of my plane with the 2.62:1.  The MK IV I flew with the B box had 2.58:1 and the 3 blade 68" ground adjust.  It was a sweet combo that ran very smooth.  IVO does not recommend nor condone the use of the 3 blade when running 3:1 but I know a lot of people who are doing it with no ill effects.
     

    • 0