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Activity Stream



  1. Guest added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    No worries Ed!
     
    I am going to pick up the cowl and see if I can make it work. My friend Max has a Fat Avid top cowl I can have. I only require a bottom. It does not look to me like Luke's cowl is aMKIV, So the bottom may or may not work for me.
     
    At this time my plan is to get the cowl from Luke. I must have it in hand. If I can use all or part of it great. If not I will to greyhound it to you. (I have experience doing that sending Willis his cowl) ) My goal is to get me set up with a workable cowl, but NOT to break Luke's cowl set up if possible, because top and bottom match.
     
    Bottom line is if I don't use the cowl, and you are willing to maybe help with my gas to get it and pay greyhound, it's yours.
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  2. Tree top pilot added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Thanks for all the info on plywood ! 
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  3. EDMO added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    We have certainly been taught that "MIL-SPEC is the 'APPROVED' material" - but being "experimental", we can use anything from cardboard to I-beams - to each his own.   Kit Manufacturers may have a little more responsibility for their product, but the final liability is with the builder.
    EDMO
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  4. dholly added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Lol, the Luan skin ply off a 10 y.o. hollow core closet door from Bargain Outlet would probably outlast me. McBean understandably has to cover his ass on part and material sales so no surprise there.
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  5. EDMO added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Thanks for the info Doug,
          I know things have changed since I was taught by Korean War Vets - I think they had just approved FPL-16 at the time, and printed in the books as an alternate to the old glues.  Maybe a young someone can find out how long my Finnish Birch and Kitfox ribs lasted someday after I am long-gone.
    EDMO
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  6. dholly added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Ed,

    As I understand it, "aircraft grade" ply as defined by MIL-P-6070B spec requires cross banding plies at 90* to grain and edge. However, I believe plywood grading overall is primarily dependent on bonding adhesive and procedure. That is considered most critical because wood does not have a fatigue life limit and if properly preserved and stored, will last indefinitely. Adhesive, however, can deteriorate with time and must be suitable for the application i.e. non-elastic, not corrosive to the wood fibres, not subject to fungal attack etc. Also, strict adherence to manufacturer recommended shelf life, mixing instructions, spreading requirements, pot life, clamping requirements, temperature and humidity limitations, gap filling properties etc, etc. come into play. All of this is important because in forming the joints the adhesive does not bind one wood surface to the other, rather, each surface is individually bound to the glue. In wooden structures the strength of the glue line must be greater than that of the wood, whereas in adhesive bonded metal structures the glue line will most likely be weaker than the metal. Bonding adhesives for plywood are generally classified as:

    ‘A Bond’ (WBP) - a water and heat proof glue line produced from phenolic resins that will not deteriorate under extreme conditions (WBP - Water Boil Proof adhesive, must withstand 3 hours of boiling in water). It is readily recognisable by its black color. Type A bond is always specified for exterior, aircraft, marine and structural plywood.

    ‘B Bond’ - produced from melamine fortified urea formaldehyde resin and suitable for limited exposure.

    ‘C&D Bond’ – is produced from urea formaldehyde resin and suitable for interior use only.

    Most common A Bond adhesive used in aircraft and marine grade plywood construction is Hot Press Thermoset Phenol Formaldehyde Resin (Tego-film), although Resorcinol Formaldehyde Novolac Synthetic Resin Glue, Urea Formaldehyde Synthetic Resin Glue, Type 2 Hot Press Urea Resin Glue or Araldite AW 134 Epoxy Resin based adhesives are also used to lessor degree.

    Note: "Baltic Birch" multi-ply all birch w/ solid inner plies is often described by sellers or considered synonymous with aircraft grade plywood, but is not true aircraft grade when constructed with cold curing acid catalysed phenolics, urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine fortified urea-formaldehyde resin or casein milk and animal protein derivised adhesives. Beware import plywood quality if not stamped certified, seek plywood from US mills manufacturing with domestic cores and domestically cut veneers if possible.

    Without getting more wonky, in general I think it would be safe to say:

    Aircraft grade ply is cross grain hot glued under pressure with waterproof structural glue and cannot have voids in the inner layers. Can be WBP or better. Minimum 5-ply for 1/8", 7-9 ply better. Aircraft grade uses all top quality plies of the same species. Also aircraft plies are “balancedâ€, that is with an odd number of plies with the same amount of fibers in the crossed direction to minimize warping. WBP ply is best for structural uses like rib web.

    Marine grade ply is cross hot glued under pressure with waterproof structural glue and can have minor voids in the inner layers, but all voids must be filled, making it much stronger than lesser grades of plywood. Marine grade can be WBP or better, also min. 5-ply for 1/8". Marine grade is often denser (therefore, heavier) than aviation grade.

    Cabinet grade ply does not require structural waterproof glue, will have voids in the inner layers where you cannot see them, making the plywood weaker. Often with cabinet grade plywood the back side will have voids that have been filled. Can be as few as 3-ply, however, the lesser grades of ply with voids and lower quality internal veneers are not consistent in strength and weight and are not suitable for structural applications in aircraft.

    Tip: For a less expensive but still very strong alternative to aircraft grade birch with little weight penalty, look for a marine grade Okoume ply. Okoume ply made in France by Joubert is the highest quality marine plywood available today and is certified by Lloyd's of London to be manufactured to the BS (British Standard) 1088. My local specialty lumber shop carries full 4'x8'x6mm (1/4") sheets of Grade AA Joubert marine grade Okoume ply for $81.55.
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  7. EDMO added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    Chris,
          I didn't mean to cut in line in front of you - I just wanted my name on the list in case you didn't get the cowl.
    EDMO
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  8. Luked added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    No problem Chris. Hope it works out for you.
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  9. Guest added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    Thanks for posting the pics!
     
    I will check measurements against my plane after work. It looks awesome if I can make it work. And YES I can drive down to get it (and buy you dinner) if it looks like I can use it!
     
    Many thanks!
     
    Chris
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  10. EDMO added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    We were taught at Aviation school that aircraft plywood is 45 degree ply and not 90 like standard plywood.
    My Kitfox 1 and 2 ribs held up just fine until they hit something - whatever they were made of.
    EdMO
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  11. dholly added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    According to John Larsen, "Avid originally used a 9 ply about 6mm plywood made in Finland at great expense. Kenny Schreader, when he ran Sky Raider, went to US cabinet grade maple veneer 7 ply which was 5/16 as I recall. I have not heard of any Sky Raiders falling out of the sky due to faulty plywood. The shrunken fabric holds the wing together, so use a plywood you feel comfortable with."

    IIRC, KF 1-3 used aviation grade Mahogany 9-ply w/ 90*degree ply layup for rib webs, and either aviation grade Spruce or Birch 5-ply for cap strip material. If you opt out of the oem or ACS aviation grade rib or cap strip material, seek out Grade 1 or AA Marine birch ply as it will have 90*degree ply orientation, higher quality sanded face veneer, no core voids plus a fully waterproof structural adhesive. Birch is also stronger than mahogany or spruce, I used a 1/8" Marine grade birch 5-ply for my floorboards sourced from a local specialty lumber yard, it would probably work fine as cap strip material too.

    Just a thought, what if you used a waterproof glue and carefully laminated together two layers of locally sourced 1/8" Marine grade birch 5-ply ie., less expensive than the ACS rib material but more than adequate strength wise? Don't recall what it cost but it wasn't terribly expensive and no shipping cost.
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  12. Luked added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2014 Picture thread   

    I also like to take some pictures of various aircraft details. Here are just a few. I was too busy this time to take very many.
     
    Super STOL:
     
    brakes

     
    Aileron hinge

     
    Flap track

     
    Joint between Slats

     
    Tailwheel

     
    Trim

     
    Wing tip

     
    Gas tank

     
    Sky Raider aileron pulley and cable

     

     
    I've got some more, but they are on my phone. I'll see if I can get them uploaded some time.
     
     
     
     
     
     
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  13. Luked added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2014 Picture thread   

    Here are a few pictures I took. Wish I had taken a lot more.
     
    Super STOL

     

     
    B-25

     
    Corsair (my favorite warbird)

     

     
    T-28

     
    Sky Raider

     

     
    Questair Venture
    (side note: I read a magazine article about the Venture, and the author said that he thinks someone saw a cartoon drawing of an airplane and thought it was an engineering drawing  )

     
    Ford GT (not an airplane, but pretty cool)

     
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  14. dholly added a post in a topic WTB - Rotax B gear box   

    Robert - Just curious why you would opt for the B box over a C box? I understand the weight penalty but the C box allows improved torsional vibration dampening and 2x the prop weight mass inertia, a requirement if you will ever use a larger diameter or heavy Warp prop IMHO. After trying multiple prop/gearbox combinations, the original builder of my KF3 removed his 2.58 B box in favor of a 2.62 C box w/ 68" 3-blade and never went back.
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  15. EDMO added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Kitfox Grove gear mounts
    I have a set of Kitfox/Grove maingear mounts that Skystar used on models 5,6.7.  for the 4 5/8 wide 1550 GW gear.  This is the type that has nylon radius inserts.   Anyone interested can PM me for info / photo.
    Also have a set of 3 Cessna wheelpants for sale.
    EDMO
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  16. EDMO added a post in a topic SCRATCH BUILDING   

    Thanks Leni,
          Just had to make an unforeseen engineering change - cutting tubes, and heading back to weld shop!   Time - and Time Again!
    EDMO
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  17. Deejayel added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Maule 6" tailwheel for sale
    TW-101. 6"solid wheel.

    I'll toss it on here before ebay

    $205 shipped. OBO

    Text me for pics.

    225 two hundred 5966
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  18. akflyer added a post in a topic SCRATCH BUILDING   

    Keep plugging away Ed, you will get that bird in the air!
     

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  19. EDMO added a topic in Close Call's and dumb stunts   

    SCRATCH BUILDING
    Wisdom learned from years of experience:
    Building your own plane without using someone's plans or a kit is like buying an engine and making all the parts to build your own car instead of bolting together all the parts the manufacturer made.
    Your cost in time is 1000 times the cost of buying one already built, but you made it "your way"!.
    You may learn a lot while designing and building, but the best wisdom should be displayed in the name of your plane:  "NEVER AGAIN"! 
    EDMO
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  20. akflyer added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2014 Picture thread   

    Great pictures and great story Doug!  I would love the opportunity to sit down and hear some of  the stories first hand.  I will never forget an airshow I went to in Arizona where a guy was reunited with the very B24 he flew in the war.  He was emotional, the crowd was emotional and the look on his face as he climbed in, fired up, taxied out and did a few high speed passes over the runway was the highlight of the airshow for me.  He was flying right seat but the CAF pilot said he never touched the controls once, the old guy did it all and flew it like he had just been on a mission the day before.  Way cool to see the spark in old folks eyes as they get to relive the glory days!
     

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  21. dholly added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2014 Picture thread   

    Just a note about that pic...

    WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), the first women to fly American military aircraft volunteered to serve the United States as pilots for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, and ferried planes across the country, test-flew new and repaired aircraft, trained both ground and air-to-air gunners, and any other duty their nation asked of them. They also served as test pilots for experimental aircraft, including remote piloted aircraft (predecessors to today's "drones") and the early jet powered aircraft prototypes being developed.

    I was speaking to WASP Jean McCreery, age 91 or 92. Jean is sharp as a tack with a wonderful sense of humor, and was recounting her ride in a P51 Mustang the day before. The pilot asked if she would like him to do any particular maneuver, to which she answered "Chandelle", and proceeded to explain and gesture with her hand to make certain I knew what the maximum performance maneuver was. When I asked if she enjoyed her ride, she said "Hell yes!", but was a bit disappointed because the pilot failed to finish the maneuver correctly. You see, she confided in me, every night for the past 70 years before falling asleep she relives in her mind those perfect Chandelles she learned to do in her Stearman, AT6 and P51 trainers.

    FYI: And to earn the coveted WASP wings, they had to be perfect in every type flown. Not an easy task. In total, these brave women flew 78 different aircraft, carried out over 12,000 assignments and logged over 60 million miles of flying between 1942-1944. While 25,000 women applied to the program, in the end, 1,830 were accepted into the rigorous flight training program and 1,074 of them received their silver wings. Only 13 WASP, known as "The "Lucky 13", were offered the opportunity to earn multi-engine ratings and regularly flew B17 Flying Fortress, B24 Liberator, B25 Mitchell and B26 Marauder Widow Maker bomber and C47 transport plane missions. Two WASP were checked out and flew the B29 Super Fortress, a particularly difficult rating as no two B29s were alike.

    Like the Tuskegee Airmen, recognition of the WASP was slow to come. Thirty-eight lost their lives in service, yet WASPs received no official recognition or honors when disbanded in 1944. Finally recognized as veterans in 1977 and honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010, the service of the WASP is still largely unknown to most Americans, and ignored in most history books. Only 200 or so of these extraordinary aviators remain alive and I have had the honor of meeting and visiting with nearly two dozen in intimate, private settings during the past 10 years. They were in their service time, and remain today, extraordinary individuals. Three years ago I helped Jean into a SeaBee at the seaplane base and she proceeded to do T&G's on Lake Winnabago despite a 30-year hiatus at the controls of a plane. Another year, we splashed down to the local lake home of a Lucky 13 WASP friend and delivered her to OSH in a Grumman Widgeon. At 90+ y.o., she was rock solid at the controls in the right seat and I will never forget the look of elation on her face as she was dancing through the clouds once again. Seeing and recognizing my WASP friends will always be the highlight of my AirVenture trips.

    More history here: http://wingsacrossamerica.org ; http://fifinella.com

    Note: 2014 Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade WASP float celebrating their service and ground-breaking accomplishments! --- NATIONAL TROPHY WINNER --- fund raising for final payment still needed, please contribute HERE if you can.

    Thanks!

    [edit] repair link
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  22. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2014 Picture thread   

    (The 801 hybrid is actually a Tapanee Levitation 4. A 4 seat version of the Pagazair.

    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapanee_Levitation_4
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  23. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2014 Picture thread   

    Nice collection of pics, Joey.  Thanks for posting them.  As others have said, after you've been to a bunch of them you tend to forget to take pictures anymore.  You sure got around and captured the essence of Oshkosh.  Thanks!
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    The best way to ship something like this that's bulky, but not real heavy is with Grayhound bus service.  I was told last week, that it cost about $60 to ship a cowl from out west to Mn.  They said it wasn't much difference in price for 200 miles or 1000 miles.  Might be something to look into.  Jim Chuk
     
    PS  when I got my Jabiru / Avid cowl it came this way.  Price then was $50.  That was about 6 yrs ago.
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  25. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Help your fellow men   

    Have him print several of these for handing out to his friends, too.

    Taylor made this. He said he was going to laminate it and keep it in his wallet...


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