Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. High Country added a post in a topic tailwheel spring bolts?   

    Leni. on my airframe the two lower tubes coming together where the bolt sits between has been filled with some sort of epoxy or something completely to the top of the tubes so its completely flat giving me nothing to hold against.
     
    Ed- the strap and rivet may be an option I will have to take a look and give it some thought
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  2. EDMO added a post in a topic tailwheel spring bolts?   

    The old-time car springs were kept aligned by a steel rectangle slipped over the springs, and held in place by a rivet thru the hole in the spring - any way you can do something like that?
    EDMO
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  3. akflyer added a post in a topic tailwheel spring bolts?   

    I was able to wedge a large flat blade screw driver between the head of the bolt and the tube while I zipped the nut on from the bottom side with an impact gun. 
     

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  4. EDMO added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    One of the guys on this site duplicated the Kitfox ribs out of aluminum for an ultralight he was building.
    SkyPirate, have you got any photos of your fixture and the ribs you made?
    EDMO
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  5. EDMO added a post in a topic tailwheel spring bolts?   

    I wouldn't even think of trying to tap threads into a hardened spring - You will either break the tap, or cause the spring to break later on.
     the head of the rear bolt on mine was set in 9460. 
    EDMO
    Would it work to just drop a bolt thru the two pieces of spring to keep them lined up, and not the fuselage?
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  6. High Country added a topic in Technical tasks   

    tailwheel spring bolts?
    I have installed Bretts two leaf tailwheel spring which adds a second bolt to mount it to the airframe I believe this bolt is more to keep the second spring from rotating from side to side rather than actually holding everything on. my problem is getting this second (rearward) bolt in. Bretts way was to grind off two sides of the bolt get it down into the airframe and through the bottom then just put on a locknut and the flat ground head would hold itself in place between the two lower tubes as they come together but on my airframe that whole area has been filled with some type of epoxy so I have to get something in there to hold the bolt while putting the nut on. has anyone else run into this problem there is no real room to work with and I really don't want to cut into my fabric just for this bolt. I did put in an inspection ring but its a bit to high and forward to really get directly onto this rear bolt. I had thoughts of trying to tap threads into the spring and just thread a bolt up through the bottom I know it will do nothing to hold it all onto the airframe but it will keep the two springs aligned which I believe is its purpose anyways correct I did have to grind just a tad off the top edges to fit up into the channel on the airframe which helps hold it straight but it is definitely not enough. other than making adjustments and tuning this is the last real thing I need to do before I can fly it.
     
    -Robert-
     
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  7. High Country added a post in a topic Painting the cargo bay   

    easy don't mask anything and just paint it all the same color its not really seen anyways. some people don't even paint the fabric on the inside of the cargo bay just the tubing and controls before the fabric is even on.
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  8. High Country added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Might try looking at a fine cabinet shop if you have one locally they often carry wood like this. would probably save quite a bit on shipping too if you could find it locally.
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  9. ABF added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Another name for the ply is 'Baltic Birch'. It's very similar to aircraft ply but a lot cheaper to buy.
     
    I've used it on various car restorations and it's very nice stuff to work with. You'd need to find a specialty wood dealer..,not the kind of thing HD sells.
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  10. IFMT added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    Being in Canada requires an advanced ultralight pilot licence for an Avid. This is a whole lot less expensive than a private or recreational class license. You should be able to line up ultralight(up to 1234 lbs. gross) training pretty reasonably here in Canada. Many good schools for around $110-120 per hour. They say you can earn the license in about 20 hours. You don't really know how to fly after that but it's a start. Check on upac site for flight schools and get at it! There is no time like the present! B
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  11. RDavidson added a topic in Avid Magnum   

    Painting the cargo bay
    I'm wondering how you are supposed to paint the cargo bay, inside the fuse without painting everything else...tubing, control arms etc.
    Do you roll it on?
    Even if you masked everything off, it would be very difficult to get a spray gun into all the tight spots.
    Suggestions?

    This is an old pic, so now those wrinkles have been ironed the out...

    • 8 replies
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  12. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Ed,

    That is a great point! The first primer coat is very thin so that it soaks into the weave. The next coat of primer is a little thicker. However, in the scheme of thinks, I think Superflite ends up being the same thickness as poly fiber.

    Ron
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  13. EDMO added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    The material you want is either 1/4 inch or 6mm (Finland Birch) plywood as sold by Spruce - Mine was in 5 foot squares, but haven't checked the book for smaller pieces.   It has a lot of plies, and is a lot stronger and harder than the other plywoods with less plies.
    Kitfox wanted $78 EACH for ribs the last time I checked.  It is a lot cheaper to make your own.
    The ribcaps are also sold by Spruce - to get the best price, you measure what lengths you want them to cut it, and total up the combined lengths, and you buy the total length.
    I didn't have CNC - just a hole saw and a jig saw and sand belt, and built my own fixtures to hold them while the glue set up - You want the capstrips to set at a true 90 degrees to the rib.
    I used the 1mm to cover my extended leading edges.
    Hope this helps.
    EdMO
    Just got to thinking, the Kitfox Lite may have used 5mm or 3/16 in same plywood? 
    But, I didn't know they made a Lite2.
    EDMO
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  14. akflyer added a post in a topic Hey Leni   

    see that shit, even the heli cant handle the power of the cat!     Sweet deal he was experienced enough to do an auto!  I have only done them on my RC heli's one out of 4 times when I lost a tail rotor.. Took me a few to figure that trick out!  The other one you can do is a running landing if you are already in forward motion.
     

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  15. Tree top pilot added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Material for making ribs ?
    Hey guys I have a new friend {Dan Tanner} that has found me and is seeking help with a basket case he bought. He picked up a Kitfoxlite2 that has been abused a lot and needs to build new wings. After talking a bit and looking at pix our wings are very similar. He wants to make a new ribs and wanted to know where to get the wood. Dan said the people at Kit fox had the ribs in stock at a premium.  After looking at my wings we couldn't figure out what kind of plywood was used to make my ribs. Marine ply?  They show 5 very distinct plys under the epoxy sealer. He said Mr. Kit fox told him that was not aircraft plywood as it needed to have 10 or 12 plys for 1/4" or it would not be strong enough. We looked at ACSpruce has the material - over $200 of wood just to get enough material. Is it worth it?  Dan has in-laws with CNC router tools to make the parts. We are wondering what else is out there...I told him to try Airdale but that didn't work. I told him to sign up here as there is a great bunch of guys and lots to learn.
    • 21 replies
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  16. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Hey Leni   

    Tail rotor departed the Heli! Successful shut down and auto. Flattened the gear but it didn't tip over.
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  17. EDMO added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Part of my schooling was a trip to the tie-down parking on Merrill Field, which is right next to UAA Aviation, and to look at a plane which looked great from a distance, but up close it was a lot of cracked paint, from putting on the paint too thick.
    EDMO
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  18. EDMO added a post in a topic FLAPERON BUSHINGS   

    Robert,
          I know that one of my manuals (Avid Magnum or Kitfox 1,4,5) shows a small (1/8 -3/16) hole in the rear top of the round metal part of the flaperon hinge, with instructions to use this to oil bushing when needed. 
          I should have realized by this that the hinge rotates on the bushing - Duh! 
    Guess I've had too many other things to think about.  Trying to get my flap / aileron design worked out now.
    Thanks for the info.
    EDMO
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  19. akflyer added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    I second the tail dragger training.  I did all my initial training in a TD and wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  If you start in a nose dragger cessna, then you get into the Avid or KF, it will be starting over at ground zero for the most part.  As you know, 90% of the cost of getting your ticket will be in aircraft rental.  You are money ahead to buy your own plane then learn to fly in it.  Paying a good instructor is a lot cheaper than renting the plane and instructor and you will be way ahead on several levels by doing it in your own plane.  The planes hold value pretty well, so unless you wad it up, if you decide its not your bag, you can get most if not all your money back out of the plane.
     

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  20. akflyer added a post in a topic Hey Leni   

    Crash due to engine failure or pilot error??
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  21. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Hey Leni   

    (That heli crashed yesterday. No injuries.)
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  22. High Country added a post in a topic FLAPERON BUSHINGS   

    Ed, the nylon bushings are pressed onto the aluminum flaperon spar then the hinge rotates around the bushing. I've thought it would be beneficial to drill a small hole in the hinge so you could shoot some lube in there and rotate it up and down from time to time just to keep them moving real nice. I know mine are pretty stiff and i'm not to sure how to fix them.
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  23. John in Ontario added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    I fully expect it to be a very long road before I can solo, and that's just fine. It's all part of the process and the fun. I would appreciate it if you guys keep your eyes open if something comes available.
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  24. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    I finally started painting and was surprised to see that the Superflite System 7 primer/UV Block was white. I guess I was expecting silver. However, it sprayed on smoothly and is looking good! The directions have me putting on 2 coats of primer and sanding between coats. I'm excited to see the topcoat go on!
    My spray booth is working great and I think I have finally figured out my spray gun (better knock on wood)

    Well, got to get back to it!
    Ron

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  25. EDMO added a topic in Technical tasks   

    FLAPERON BUSHINGS
    This may sound like a silly question, but I would have to take two wings off of the wall to get up high and look at the flaperon hanging there.   
    Concerning the nylon bushings in the flaperon hinges - does the hinge rotate around the bushing, or is the bushing a press fit in the hinge and rotates on the flaperon control tube?
    Thanks,
    EDMO
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    • 2 replies
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