Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. IFMT added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    Skid Ball
    I'm starting to think my skid ball is causing some of my grief. The skid ball seems to always be off to the left when parked on the ground. I noticed when taxiing the other evening that if I straighten the ball while still on the ground it puts me into a gentle left turn. Going to check it by levelling the wings at the tips. I've got a cheap laser level that i'm going to set up and take a reference at the outside flaperon hinge. The way I have always levelled the plane for adjustments has been across the bottom of the door opening. This might be the root of my weird left turns, fuel emptying from the right tank first and who know what else. Don't get me wrong. The plane doesn't look bent but I'm starting to wonder if there is some subtle twist. Cheers B
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  2. lostman added a post in a topic Hello?   

    I'm hoping the crickets chirping are due to a bunch of flying going on too!
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  3. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Hello?   

    bump… 
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  4. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    I know of no Kitfox setup that ever put the 912 oil tank behind the seat.  Only the Avid.  The Kitfox 1-4 FWF puts the tank (too) high and behind the engine, requiring the reversal of the intake manifolds.  Birddog, what are the specs for distance on the oil lines?  I never knew there was a spec for that.
     
    I hope you can get more than 150º on the oil once you are flying.  You may need to actually insulate the oil lines to keep heat in.
     
    One of the theories why my friend's setup failed is that he was never able to get the oil up to temperature.  The thick cold oil would not pump easily and bubbles formed in the pump causing cavitation and eventual erosion on the impeller which finally failed.
     
    He has since converted to a newer Airdale built motor mount which puts the tank under the cowl on the right side of the engine.  No more problems.
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  5. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Oh........Power to weight ratio in your plane will be very similar to my Magnum with 150HP engine. It was crazy impressive! You won't be disappointed!
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  6. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Glad you've researched it and have solid information! Can't wait to see your comments on that rocket ship when it takes to the air. My friends with 912 installs in Avids are 80hp and they are amazing. 100hp should run like a scalded cat. My Fat Avid has the 100 HP engine, but I haven't flown it yet AND it is a larger plane so will not perform like yours!
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  7. EDMO added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Leni - Most people don't attach Goodyear Blimps to their landing gear - But sooo nice if you need them!
    Agree - fairings on those would be like huge weather vanes...
    EdMO
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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Fairing the gear struts and all other round tubes is on my bucket list, just have not gotten around to it yet.  A little bit of .020 or less aluminum would make for a quick test of the speed and climb increase in fairing the gear legs.. I dont think spats for the 30" are gonna look right   I lost damn near 500 FPM by putting on the 30", but they sure roll nice over those big rocks!
     

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  9. EDMO added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Robert,
           I figured that the wings out was just for the photo - it really looks good.
    Leni,
           I am sure that you know about the decrease in climb without fairing the struts - But, I keep looking at all the drag from the gear struts, right behind the prop blast, and wonder if that would even make more difference if faired.
    BTW:   I have photos somewhere of an Ercoupe that had fairings behind the wheels - like the rear half of wheelpants, but without all the headaches of wheelpants - and he got about a 10 mph increase in cruise from that.
    EdMO
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  10. birddog486 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Thanks for the heads up on the oil tank. I did quite a bit of research on putting it back there and I did here a story or two about problems that were thought to have been caused by the tank being that far away. However I think there's more to the story as far as what caused the problems with those installs. In the Rotax installation manual there is a maximum & minimum height, distance and tubing size recomendation and this install is within the specs given by Rotax so I'm hoping I dont need to make any changes but time will tell.
     
    Before I made up my mind on the placement of the tank I was able to get in touch with a handfull of 912 builders that have the oil tank under the baggage compartment and there are a couple that are over 1000 hrs with this setup and have had no problems.
     
    I do have an EIS thats setup with the flashing red light so if a problem presents itself it wont be missed until it's to late. As of now this install has about 2 hrs running on it and It has no problem with oil pressure holding in the 70's when its up to temp. The warmest I've seen the oil on the ground is 150 at 4000rpm for an extended amount of time so I'm curious what kind of temps I'll be getting when she's in the air.
     
    Travis
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  11. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic N139AH   

    What a beautiful build!
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  12. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Nice install. Well thought out with regard to weight and balance with the battery way in back. The Avid owners I know running 912's have trouble getting oil warm enough. I haven't decided on installing the cooler in mine or not. Will be interesting to see how your temps run.

    One comment....first with the caveat that I have no first hand experience only hearsay so take this with a grain of salt, but definitely research more before flying!!!! From what I understand Avid and maybe kitfox went through a very short phase where the install instructions had the oil tank mounted in the baggage area. Great idea as it put some weight back to help with W@B and got it out of the crowded engine compartment. However, my understanding is that there were some incidents with oil starvation or hydraulic lock or something due to long lines and oil tank position relative to engine. Rotax has a tight range where they want the oil tank relative to the engine (height wise) and placing the tank in the back violates that range on climb out and steep decent. Also the Rotax uses crank case blow by to pump the oil to the tank so there are serious issues to consider with tank placement.

    One of my friends packed his into the engine compartment on the left side if you are facing the plane. That's where mine is. Another friend placed his inside the firewall on the passenger side. Both of these locations are good because of the close proximity and proper height of the tank relative to the engine.

    Anyway, I do know that no one mounts the tank in the baggage area any more. I wanted to do that and I was told NO NO NO! So please research this more before you take to the air.

    Otherwise Awesome install!

    Chris
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  13. BryceKat added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Congratulations!
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  14. High Country added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Ed: I will be transporting it with the wings closed. I live less than 1 mile from the airport so don't have to go far.
     
    Leni: I currently have the 3/4" struts so I'm not to worried about faring them just want to get in the air at this point. I planning to replace them soon with the bigger struts and will fair them then.
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  15. saskavid added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Pretty hard not to like the looks of this aircraft! Should be a fun bird to fly.
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  16. akflyer added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Somehow I'm doubting that he has even thought about trailering it with the wings out, it's only for a photo... I am not sure if you increased the wall thickness or the diameter of the struts, but not having them faired will cost you more in climb than speed. It cost me around 200-250 fpm. The plane is looking great and I'm ready to see the first flight report!


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  17. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Oh. Okay.

    For you it will be extremely critical that you monitor oil pressure very closely. I had a friend with that setup in his mk IV. It nearly cost him an engine due to the oil pumps inability to draw through the long lines. The oil pump cavitated badly eventually causing it to fail. Luckily he was on the ground when it did.
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  18. birddog486 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    The oil tank is under the baggage compartment.
     

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  19. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Where's your oil tank?
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  20. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Funny Pics   


     
     
     
    Let's keep this going...
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  21. dynomike added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    congratulations,great looking plane ,let us know how it does
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  22. EDMO added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Robert,
          It really looks good on the trailer - Hope you don't have far to go without folding the wings!
    Have you decided on a name for it yet?  If not, it reminds me of the little yellow bird that Sylvester the cat was always chasing:  "Tweety Bird"?
    EdMO
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  23. EDMO added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Travis,
           Real nice bird - Hope you have many enjoyable hours in it.
    EDMO
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  24. birddog486 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   



  25. EDMO added a topic in Technical tasks   

    MINI-SPOTLIGHTS
    I was looking at Motorcycle parts on ebay trying to find a HID Landing light, and found these cute little mini-spots for $8.39 each.   No ad gave the size and no answer came when I asked, so I bought a pair.
    They sure as heck wont make landing lights, but look like a very bright little LED.  
    I thought about putting them on wingtips for wig-wag lights, or on the rear of my wingtips, or somewhere, for imitation tail lights. 
    They are about 7/8" OD, and only pull about 1/3 amp on 12 volts.
    They say "100% Waterproof", but there is no O-ring where the parts screw together, so I think some kind of sealer should be added there, or mount them in a rubber grommet.
    I'm still looking for a HID landing light at a reasonable price, and I wont find one in "aircraft lights".
    EDMO

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