Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Luked added a post in a topic Flaperons   

    Thanks guys. This Kitfox owner must have operated off a runway with plenty of room. Our conversation was so short I didn't think to ask.
    • 0


  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Wanted a Rotax C redrive   

    You will need to keep us informed on the conversion of the Yamaha engine to gearbox and installation in the aircraft!  OR ELSE!  )  Jim Chuk
    • 0


  3. EDMO added a post in a topic Flaperons   

    Just one more added point - this is coming from a builder who is making flaps and ailerons - remember your student pilot days, when they told you to make crosswind landings with little or no flaps - the flaperons do inhibit the roll control somewhat, as compared to full-deflection ailerons - so you don't want to deflect the flaperons much in crosswind landings.
    EDMO
    • 0


  4. EDMO added a post in a topic Axle Grease   

    I will almost bet that if Doug Holly reads this, he will quote the MIL-SPEC for the approved grease!
    EDMO
    • 1


  5. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Wanted a Rotax C redrive   

    Looks like I will keep my eyes open for a C box, then consider selling the 582 and e box that I have now, the Yamaha puts out about 120hp at about the same weight as the 582, at least close enough I can get away with using it. I have always been just a little nervous about using the 2 stroke engine and I just picked up a 2006 Yamaha snowmobile with 6,000 miles for $3000 and 7,000 miles shocks and hyfaxes are shot, but the engine is still in perfect condition.
    • 0


  6. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Axle Grease   

    There are lots of boat trailers with twisted off axles that would counter the idea that grease does not dissolve in water…  
     
    I use a synthetic automotive grease on my wheel bearings.  I repack mine in the spring every year when I take off my skis.  I have seen the start of milky, water contaminated, grease in mine from heavy snow ops, so it is possible.
    • 0


  7. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Flaperons   

    As Ed says, they don't add much drag, but do add a ton of lift and slow the stall speed.  They are very effective for landing and taking off short.  (On my Model IV Kitfox I am rigged to 26º down at full deflection.)  If you think about their position and function, they make the wing an under cambered wing when deployed as flaps.  
     
    With the advantage of  the flapperon still being in high pressure, high flow air even when the wing is fully stalled.  EG- you still have full aileron roll control through the stall.
     
    There is a subtle genius to the Junkers style flapperon as a control surface.
    • 0


  8. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    For the reliability and proven power, the weight of a 680 is an easy trade off for me.  Plus the weight in the back of the plane helps it fly better.
     
    I could skip the doughnuts or a couple cheeseburgers and take the same amount of weight off the pilot.  (but I probably won't)
     
     
    I'm sorry but I'm not in competition for the Valdez trophy, a couple of pounds doesn't mean enough to me to compromise the safety of my plane.
    • 1


  9. EDMO added a post in a topic Axle Grease   

    Jon,
         I think any good thick axle grease will do - I have heard some say to use the "high-temperature" grease for auto disk brakes, but don't think our aluminum wheels could get that hot.
         Others have suggested the White Lithium grease "because it is waterproof" - I have never seen a grease that would dissolve in water.
         I remember a red or cherry-colored grease at one time, but cant remember what it was for.
    EDMO
    • 0


  10. EDMO added a post in a topic Flaperons   

    The guys in Alaska, and others I guess, with short runways, sandbars, etc, use them regularly - I think they are about 1/2 as effective as flaps for lift - hardly any drag compared to a Cessna with 40 degree flaps.
    EDMO - "Foxy Flapper"
    • 0


  11. Luked added a post in a topic Almost There...   

    Hey Leni, we have used Kydex for various interior items for about 11 years now in our interior business. We now only use it for things that are too  hard to make out of aluminum (weird shapes). The reason is weight. I know it seems like you would save weight going with plastic over aluminum, but I have found that I can always make an interior part lighter with aluminum. We only use 2024 T3 which of course is one of the stiffer alloys that is commonly available (way better than 6061 T6).
     
    I think the next step to save weight over 2024 T3 might be some type of sandwich construction with carbon fiber. I'm thinking of this in my baggage. CF (with resin) weighs close to the same as aluminum, but it's stronger. The tough part is that if the CF layer facing the baggage area is too thin it might not be durable enough if you throw something into the baggage area even if it would be plenty strong enough to hold the load. I'm also thinking of making a tough Cordura bag for the baggage area instead. I think that would be pretty light.
     
    Edit: forgot to say, that you can get Kydex from several places online (http://www.professionalplastics.com/), but I don't know what would be best for Alaska to avoid expensive shipping. Many plastics suppliers stock it or can get it though.
    • 1


  12. Luked added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Flaperons
    I happened to meet a guy at Oshkosh that owns a Kitfox (nobody at our get together), and he was saying that he rarely uses the flaperons. When he does it's more for trimming the plane for cruise. I've only flown planes with flaps. How useful are the flaperons on these planes?
    • 47 replies
    • 7,917 views


  13. Jon added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Axle Grease
    This is on my Avid Mark IV.  I have finished painting the main gear and will be assembling the axle, wheel and breaks.  What type of grease should be used on the axle bearings?  Is auto axle grease OK?.
     
    Jon
     
    • 12 replies
    • 1,433 views


  14. EDMO added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    Test Post - the 680 battery is the most used.
    EDMO
    Looks like it is now working for me.
    Ed
    • 0


  15. akflyer added a post in a topic Almost There...   

    Jack, Where did you get the Kydex and what thickness did you use?  I want to replace my Aluminum baggage with the Kydex as I think I can save some weight there. 
     
    I weighted mine on bathroom scales originally... When I broke down and had it weighed on certified scales I was a little tore up that they showed ~40 pounds heavier than the bathroom scales did.. YIKES.. Of course, since then I have gone to bigger tires etc and I think I have added weight not taken it off.. yes, on the airplane too
     
    At any rate, congrats on getting it done, now lets get ya out flying again Mr.! 
     
     

    • 0


  16. jackak added a post in a topic Almost There...   

    Willis,
     
    It turned out heavier than a lead sled.  Empty weight= 841 lb.s,  empty CG= 10.9,  Most aft CG= 15.36. Most forward CG= 12.58,  Randy and I thought about it for a while and figures that the kydex interior and the plastic fuel tanks inside the fiberglass were the things that made it heavier than his.Plus.  We just used three bathroom scales to weigh it and there could be some error there.  With  normal loads though, it should be right in the ballpark CG wise. 
     
    Jack
    • 0


  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    The question is, where do you draw the line at?  I am sure we all know of someone who lost an engine and died... Lycoming, Cont. Franklin, all the certified engines, all have failed, all have killed people.  Does that mean that we are scare shitless to fly behind ANY Lycoming or other certified engine??  There have been a whole lot more Cessna's kill pilots than Avid's or Kitfox, so do we ban all Cessna's??  I am not one to panic and run with the lemmings off a cliff.  I appreciate the warnings that others give, I try to learn from others mistakes (cause I know I wont live long enough to make them all on my own) but at the end of the day, I still believe that when its my time its my time, till then nothing I do can speed it up or slow it down.  Yes you read about the Lithium fires here and there, but you don't read about the 10s of thousands of safe flights every day or week that involves lithium's.  I for one would not run out and replace a lithium battery with a lead acid if I already had the lithium, but I would keep an eye on the amp meter and volt gauge.
     

    • 0


  18. akflyer added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    Generally I have not seen any issues with any lithium unless you are overcharging or charging too fast, or trying to pull more current than they are designed to dump (discharge rate).  I know they have a "built in charger" but unless you have a good regulator/rectifier (not the stock Rotax POS) you are giving it dirty power with a good dose of AC in the mix.  So far I have had very good and stable power out of the Key West regulator.  The old lead acid batteries are much more tolerant of over draw, over charge etc. therefore everyone thinks that lithium's are the devil.. Without lithium's, our technology and toys would be light years behind what they are now.   What used to be a 3 pound battery pack for my RC airplane is now 6 oz's.  I use lithium's every day but I have not yet made the jump to putting it in my plane.  I love the idea of saving weight, but I hate the idea of giving up 75 gallons of flight time to do it   I would be a whole lot of money ahead to loose that weight off my ass instead of my battery
     

    • 0


  19. herman pahls added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    I thought Lithium Iron's were safe and Lithium Ion's were the bad boys.
    To hear that the Earth X is Iron technology makes me no longer trust my Aero Voltz which supposively is Iron technology or am I over reacting?
    What safe batteries are recommended to start the Rotax 912uls (100 hp) ?
    Herman
    • 0


  20. EDMO added a post in a topic LED Mini-spotlights   

    I found a set of 6 strobes with variable controller at auto zone - battery powered, but also 12 volt.  don't have a photo - they have long wires and are clear stick-on little domes that you could put anywhere.  Price was near $30 tho.  Didn't try them for brightness.
    Did you notice that the price on the truck strobe lights went from $12.xx to $22.xx for the U. S. version - shipping for $1.95 is good tho.
    EDMO
    • 0


  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic LED Mini-spotlights   

    A while back I got a bunch of fire alarm strobes and used 2 on the Avid.  I meant to take pics today before I replied but didn't get the pics.   They are like what is used in a hospital or school fire alarm system.  Even though they are for use in buildings, they use 12 volts to power them however so they work fine in an Avid.  Not as bright as Whelen strobes, but better than nothing by a long shot.  Just went out to the garage and shot a few pics of what I'm talking about.  Actually I had 2 different kinds of these strobes.  Red ones are brighter.  If you talk to an electrician that's working on a remodel job where they are redoing the fire alarm systems, maybe you can get a few for free.  That's how mine came about.  Jim Chuk 
    PS  on my avid when I installed mine, I cut a hole in the side of the turtle deck just big enough for the clear lens to fit through, one on each side.   Made them easy to wire up there also. 




    • 2


  22. Bandit added a post in a topic The good, the bad, and the ugly   

    Glad you made it out ok!
    • 0


  23. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic The good, the bad, and the ugly   

    Forgive my ignorance, but did it dig in and nose over? Is that what caused the damage?
    • 0


  24. akflyer added a post in a topic LED Mini-spotlights   

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/HQRP-Car-Truck-Strobe-Emergency-Warning-Headlight-Light-Lamp-4-LED-w-8-Patterns-/271215650170?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f25b6657a&vxp=mtr
     
    Here they are in the US...
     
    Looks like they may be fun on my prowler
     

    • 0


  25. EDMO added a post in a topic LED Mini-spotlights   

    Just guessing - maybe this has something to do with Mr. Puttin and Mr. Oh Bummer's little spat?
    EdMO
    • 0