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Activity Stream



  1. IFMT added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    I say start in a taildragger and don't even get in a nose dragger. If you are nimble on the feet you won't have a problem. Take the cam off the tailwheel so it can't caster. This makes a world of difference in a MK4. Get some good lessons though. If you start in something a little more docile but still a taildragger you won't be totally shocked when you get into an Avid. 
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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    Sounds like you know you like it, so I say go for it.  You know how it is, everyone looks up at the sky and wishes they could be up there, but some find out that they aren't really cut out for it once they do it a bit.  I had a guy who flew with me a lot in my Avids and probably got about 30 -35 hrs flying the plane before his first "official" lesson.  He landed the plane on the first flight with the CFI.   He got his license in  a 172 and has since got his tailwheel endorsement and is now part owner in an Aeronca Chief..  I would say he is "hooked"  sounds like you might be in a similar situation.  Chase those dreams while you can!   If I see something worth getting, I'll pass it on.  Jim Chuk
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  3. John in Ontario added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    The question of Avid vs Kitfox is not a big deal for me, but the cost of a decent KFIV is definitely beyond what my wife will tolerate. I think the MKIV is a nice balance of cost and functionality. As always, if the wife isn't happy, it doesn't matter how good a deal it is, nobody will win..

    John
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  4. John in Ontario added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    Thanks for the input with respect to flight time and tail draggers. I have the good fortune of having an experienced pilot friend with a Rans courier tail dragger and he has provided lots of informal training. I'm not suggesting that I am ready for this, far from it, but I have a good hands on pilot to co-pilot with me long after my for Al training has finished.

    It's very likely that I will start training in a local tricycle gear and move to my own plane when I have more skills and confidence. My objective at this point is to acquire the plane that I will ultimately fly so that a component of my training can be in my own plane.

    john
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  5. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Airventure 2014   

    Had our BBQ tonite. It was great to finally meet everyone in person! Thanks Larry for Hosting. Just finished watching the Valdez STOL masters play on the ultralight field for an hour. If you've never been to Osh GO! It is absolutely amazing!
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  6. EDMO added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    Again,  I agree with both Jim and Chris - but, let me add:  You may want your first flight time to be in a nose-dragger.  You have enough learning to do without fighting a ground-looping tail-dragger.   No need to stub your toe while banging your head! 
         Then, when you get old and tired of fighting the tailwheels, you can convert back to nose-dragger and relax on landings!
    Oh, but I am so glad I got that old!  Ha!
    EDMO 
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  7. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    The body of my tank is 31 3/4 across, and the lip on top is 34 - no lip on bottom. 
    distance between ribcaps is about 34 1/2. 
    You may have to add a root rib.  If you add a root rib, then you need to put 4 or more wood braces epoxied between root rib and gas tank to keep fabric from bending root rib.  I used short, about 3/4 diameter, wood dowels.  Kitfox says to wait until your wing is assembled to the fuselage before locating the root rib against the butt rib.
    Hope this helps.
    EDMO
         I wonder if it would work to coat the OUTSIDE of the tank with vinylester???
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  8. birddog486 added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    Thanks Guys. This wasn't caused by any gas coming from the cap. I wish I could have been that lucky. The paint is pretty tough and seems to resist any staining from gas, Its the primer that is causing the problem from the inside. The paint is very flexible and its just streching as the primer swells. I've got a small fan blowing through the wing but as of now it's not looking good.
     
    The Avid wing is built without a rib to the inboard side of the tank, The tank itself butts up to the butt rib. How wide are the Kitfox tanks between the ribs?
     
    Ed, I cut the tops out of these tanks and reseald them with vinyl ester resin before I put them in the wings. Obviously these early tanks were not a quality product and just trying to bandaid them bit me. I should have bit the bullet and bought the newer Kitfox tanks at that time so I would have only had to cover and paint the wings once.
     
    The stewarts said that AV gas will not do this to the primer, only car gas and It doesn't matter if its ethanol free. I've been really carefull to test the gas for ethanol and theres been none in these tanks.
     
     
    Travis
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    Not wanting to put a damper on your plans, but if you don't have any hours, I would suggest you start getting some flight lessons, even just a couple perhaps, to make sure you really want to do this.  While I can't imagine anyone not wanting to fly, ) some  realize it's not for them once they get into it.  As far as Avids verses Kitfoxes, the Kitfox 2 has a gross weight of 950, the kitfox 3 is 1050, and the Avid MK IV heavy hauler is at 1150.  Avids have 2' less wingspan, so they take a bit more distance to get off the ground, but are slightly faster than the Kitfoxs. (with same engine, ect.)   If you get into a Kitfox 4, that has a different wing profile and is probably a better all around plane then the earlier Kitfoxes and Avids, but you will pay more for it as well.  Get a bit of flight time, and then if you still want to, follow your dream!  Jim Chuk
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  10. EDMO added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    John,
          I think the closest to you would be our Doug Holly on here - He lives in outstate New York and has several planes, and is usually well informed about what is on the market in your area.   Maybe you can contact him on here after he gets back from Oshkosh.
          I agree with what ChrisB wrote above.
    EDMO
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  11. Guest added a post in a topic WTB: MkIV   

    Welcome and all the best in your search! Avids are great planes. Also Consider similar Kitfoxes as for all practical considerations they are the same plane.
    On the Avids i would recommend the Under camber wing for its low stall speed, although many love the speed wing for its faster cruise.
     
    I would also recommend that you try to locate a plane (Avid or kitfox) whose airframe is capable of supporting both Tail wheel and Tricycle configurations. Should you ever want to change from what you buy initially to the other. Reason is some don't like TW after they get a taste and want trike. Others have trike and want to convert to TW. With the right airframe you can do either.
     
    ChrisB
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  12. John in Ontario added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    WTB: MkIV
    Hi all, 
     
    Well after kicking the tires for a few years I have finally convinced my wife to let me get a small plane and licence.  I am a true "newbie" with zero hours.
     
    I am looking for a simple, well built MKIV (or equivalent) with a rotax 582 (I know 2-stroke motors pretty well and I can't afford a 912).
     
    I live in Southwestern Ontario (about an hour from Buffalo), so anything within 8-10 hour drive would be ideal, but willing to go a little further for the right plane.  I have been trolling on Barnstormers, but if any pending plane sales are out there, let me know.
     
    The plane must be registered and currently flying.
     
    john
     
    • 12 replies
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  13. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    It may be that coming from the inside is more harmful than a little spill on the outside of the urethane paint - looks like the primer was the weak part.
    Travis,  Is there a possibility of just cutting a hole where the leak is and repairing it?  If it is a pinhole, maybe drill and put some epoxy to close it?
    EDMO
    I measured two different wings - distance between spars is 25 inches.
    Tank measures somewhere between 24 3/4 and 24 7/8 at narrowest place.
    Posting 2 photos, I hope.  You can see that the curved part is in the front - You drop this onto the spar first.
    Disregard the ridges you see on the front curve next to the tape measure - that is old caulk.
    ED 


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  14. akflyer added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    Yes they should fit, YIKES!  One more reason for me to not ever use stewarts!  I fuel from 5 gallon jugs exclusively and sometimes it gets a little sloppy when the nozzle pops out etc.. No wrinkles in the Stits paints.
     
    Just making sure, but is there any way that it could have come out of the filler neck or vent?
     

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  15. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    Travis,
         Thanks for the explan - sorry this happened - give me a report about the paint responding to drying - or not.   This is one of my biggest fears with these glass tanks.
         I have an extra Kitfox 1 tank, and 2 1/2 wings to measure today and will post the findings.   I believe that the distance between spars is a standard 25 inches, and the tank should be slightly shorter than that.  Kitfox says to put the curved end of the tank against one spar - I forget, but think it is the front - and drop the other end into place from the top side, secure with strapping tape,and seal with GE Silicone II caulk underneath and inbetween on both spars.  Oh yes, before doing that, they say to wrap your spars with plastic wrap (Saran wrap) for easier removal of tank later on - (I forgot to do that when I sealed mine).
    Will get back to you today and maybe a photo too.
    EDMO
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  16. birddog486 added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    Ed, the wing was folded and had 7 gallons of gas in it (16+ gallon speedwing tank). It looks like the leak started at the top rear outside corner of the tank because, there is a small area of bubbled paint on the top of the wing there. It ran down along the ribs and down the front spar all the way to the wingtip light lifting the primer as it went.
     
    I talked to Doug Stewart about it and he wanted me to get some air blowing inside the wing to get it dried out as fast as possible. He said to give it a few days because he's seen the paint lay back down once the gas is out but im not holding my breath with this much damage. He said worst case looks like I'll have to peel and sand a bunch and reprime and paint all the damaged areas. Mr. Stewart didn't see a need to pull the fabric but I'm thinking if there are several areas that need repair and I'm going to open the wing to replace the tank I may just pull all the fabric but time will tell.
     
    Travis
     

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  17. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    Travis - that looks like the leading edge - got to know how gas got there instead of trailing edge or somewhere else.  Also, got to warn my J3 buddy about this.
    EdMO
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  18. birddog486 added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    Those measurements would be great Ed.
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  19. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    My tanks are about 32 inches wide - I can measure them tomorrow.   The Spars on all Kitfox and avid are on the same center distances, so they should fit the spars - I don't remember what that distance is - I think it is 27 1/2 - can measure that tomorrow.
    EDMO
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  20. birddog486 added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    I'm not concerned about the tank shape so much as I'm wondering if the tank will fit between the spars. I raised my turtledeck so the speedwing and the undercambered profile doesn't match anyways. The picture above is what 91 octane ethanol free gas does to the Stewarts systems Primer coats.
     
    Travis
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  21. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas tanks again   

    Travis,
         Doug Holly is probably the best source for that info, but he is in Osh - and so is Brett???
    I posted the Kitfox 1-3 ribs in combo with KF 4 ribs - maybe if you could print it and enlarge it to size, and lay a speedwing rib on top of it, it might answer your question.
    EDMO
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  22. birddog486 added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Gas tanks again
    Does anyone know if the kitfox 13 gallon model 1 2 and 3 wingtanks will fit in the Avid flyer speedwing?
     
     
    Travis
     

    • 11 replies
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  23. Guest added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    Thanks! and have a great time at Osh. Someday I hope to go. Never been.
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  24. Luked added a post in a topic Airventure 2014   

    Heading out the door to Oshkosh. It looks like the weather might be a little interesting tomorrow evening though   Looking forward to putting some faces with the names.
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  25. Luked added a post in a topic Small project update   

    Thanks for the picture Ed. It's nice to see what you've been doing on your project. I think you'll see what Avid was doing better when I get those two other tubes in that are missing. I'll probably post an updated pic on Monday. I didn't really pay much attention to that area yet because I've mainly been focused on the landing gear
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