Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Tree top pilot added a post in a topic Wing spar repair   

    It was done by a helper with a propane torch...while I was absent. I would hate to scrap what I have....but it is critical. I am at a loss here. He told me it was heated from the inside enough to wiggle the rib off. So who knows...it was more than a year ago. As for replacing the spar...you know how much work that would be. Better off to start all new again. I am trying to figure a way out of doing just that. I agree with a fish-mouth to prevent a stress point. I am just trying to rationalize this as some other aircraft have a welded headrack tube made from T-6....and they are not falling out of the sky. My MTOW will be under 650lds. But .........I will be in touch with a person at Alcoa soon. Hopefully they will help in some capacity. Thanks for the suggestions......a lot to swallow at this point. Just now being able to get back to work on it a bit before the next round of health issues retards my activities.
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  2. EDMO added a post in a topic Wing spar repair   

    It doesn't take too much heat to soften/melt the 9460 - But you need to know how and how much heat was applied.
    To prevent the stress riser at the end of the insert, it should have a large rounded "V" cut out on two sides.
    If it was mine, I would replace the spar, rather than worry about the unknown, unless you can verify that the heat used was not excessive, and then epoxy the insert repair if that makes you feel safer.
    EDMO
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  3. wypaul added a post in a topic Wing spar repair   

    When you say an unknown amount of heat was used, do you know what the heat source was?  If you do repair it, will you trust it or will you be flying around waiting for the wings to fold.  I guess if it were me I would just rebuild the wings so I wasn't worrying about it.  The problem with the sleeve is that it adds a stress riser at the end of the sleeve but what I don't know is, would that be a problem or not.
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  4. birddog486 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Thanks guys,
     
    the bumps in the cowl are there to give some clearance for the carbs. It has a 912ULS under the hood
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  5. Tree top pilot added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Wing spar repair
    This may need to be in the technical dept. but wanted to post here first. I have sent this idea to an A&P / IA to speculate on. I want you guys to let me know your thoughts.
     
    The rear wing spar root ribs were removed with an unknown amount of heat...just to get them off the spar tube. Hysol 9460 was used to bond. I know that a weldment will age itself to somewhere near 30% of it's original strength....but here is my idea. What do you think about it? All cheers and jeers welcomed.

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  6. SuberAvid added a post in a topic Avid Flyer update   

    Ditto what High Country said.  You shouldn't have to add any additional ballast weight if you are just running a rotax 2 stroke; rather move the weight you have (battery, ELT, emergency gear) as far to the rear as possible to get into your CG range.  If you are planning to do any off field play, the larger 8" x 3.5" matco TW is a very nice upgrade as soon as you can afford it.
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  7. High Country added a post in a topic Avid Flyer update   

    Vance, the plane looks great glad to hear you got the bugs worked out with no major problems. I see you have the Mk IV cowl do you have the larger IV tail as well? If so its pretty easy to add a trim tab that would help a bit. also where is your battery located? you might try moving some of the already had items aft if possible just to move the CG back. I chose not to go with electric start on our project just to keep the weight down and keep it rearward. Not sure what you're running for a tail wheel either but if its small and light you could go to a bigger heavier one. I went with a two leaf spring and matco 8" wide tail wheel its great for off asphalt opps and adds a little bit of weight as far back as you can get. just as well have your counter balance weight be useful weight I figure. I'm sure others will chime in with better ideas as well. good luck
     
    -Robert-
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  8. High Country added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    looks good, thats an interesting cowl, what is the bump on the top for. what power plant are you running. congrats on the build.
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  9. birddog486 added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Well, I've only had it for just shy of three years but my dad bought it back in November of 1990. He worked on it off and on for a year and was able to get a couple wing ribs attached and it setting on the gear. He got busy with life and it got put away and sat in a shed for 20 years. After the last 10 years of me trying to pry it out of him finally in August of 2011 we were able to make a deal on it.
     
    In 2 years 9 months and 1393 hrs. shes ready to fly.
     
    Av8r3400 I'm down by Janeville
     
    Travis
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  10. Deejayel added a post in a topic Midrange adjustment   



  11. SuberAvid added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    Way to go!  That is persistence.  I'm sure you will have a blast in it.
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  12. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

     
     
     
    There's a great business opportunity for you, Leni.  --  Bush Tire rentals.  
     
     
     
     
    What about my bling-bling setup??
     

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  13. marshawk added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

    Very cool pictures, had to look twice at the shot from above Randys plane over the glacier almost looked like he was landed on it
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  14. akflyer added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

    bs Larry, you can slap the big tires on your plane in a few hours    Get on up here and do some playing
     

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

    Congratulations, Travis!!  Lots of fun to come, now…  !!
     
    Where in southern Wisconsin are you?
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  16. marksires added a post in a topic Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft   

    congrats! looks great!
    Mark
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  17. birddog486 added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Avid # 846 is finally an aircraft
    This kit was bought 23 1/2 years ago and is finally ready to take to the sky with the FAA's blessing. Transition training in a Kitfox to satisfy the insurance man in one week and first flights in the Avid to follow.
     
    Travis
     

    • 21 replies
    • 1,670 views


  18. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic NEXT QUESTION - WHAT'S A 670?   

    There's always lots of excitement about 670s and before that 618 motors. To the guys trying this again and again, I wish good luck.

    The story, almost always, ends the same. The super human power and performance is breathtaking, but the constant fiddling and tweaking never stops. Then one day they realize that they have a great performer 50% of the time and a project that needs work the other 50%. I've seen this in my group of flyers, several times now. Not one of those planes is still flying with the big motor, or flying at all any more. They have moved on to 912 motors, different planes or different hobbies all together.

    Personally, I think Leni is on the right track with a fuel injected motor to solve a lot of the reliability issues. Maybe he's out on a limb with the idea of an Arctic Cat motor, but that's another conversation.
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  19. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic 912 UL Engine Vibrations - Kitfox IV   

    Okay to finally close the loop on this.

    Back in January my initial thoughts of success were not to come true. Engine roughness, between 2000 and 3000 rpm was still there. It was different, but still a problem. Prior to the gearbox I was getting what would be best described as a vibration. After the gearbox it was more of a rough running situation. I don't know which came first, but the roughness was still there.

    I had put new plugs in the motor, more out of frustration than anything, so I thought maybe there was a bad one or something. When I pulled the new plugs, I noticed one side was definitely darker than the other. Okay, that's carbs!

    Off they came again. I got new boots from JBM, even though my old ones looked fine. I tore into both carbs again, and found... Nothing wrong. This time I reversed sides on the carbs, to put the throttle arms and chokes to the outside for ease of adjustment. This required the reworking of the cables and plumbing. If nothing else, if the dark plugs changed sides too, I would know I have a bad carb, or if they didn't, maybe something internal to the motor.

    Well, the roughness is nearly (95% +) gone now. A little more tweaking on the air screws will fix what's left.

    The good news is its fixed. The bad news is I don't really know what I fixed to get here.
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  20. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

    Beautiful country, guys. Absolutely beautiful.

    I'd love to fly up there someday, but as Leni says my plane (and my skill set) aren't equipped for it...
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  21. SuberAvid added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

    That was just way fun Leni, I'm ready to do it again! 
     
    Man the wind shifted and we are smoked out here in the valley today.  Hope they are able to get it under controll soon to save homes
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  22. 959 added a post in a topic NEXT QUESTION - WHAT'S A 670?   

    If you haven't seen my post on the 670 going into a avid go to the tech section and see what I did to install the 670 and tuned pipe.
              Marv
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  23. RDavidson added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

    Great pics!
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  24. akflyer added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

    Well it was a chore, but I found a card reader for my damn sony card.  Here are a few more of the fun from yesterday.  I have some waterskipping video but I have to get an editing program on this computer so I can cut it down.  I should have had my camera on rapid shot to get better shots of Randy playingin the water.  Guess we will just have to go out and do it again so we can get the photos right eh Randy :duno:  Lol:
     

    Headed across the Inlet to meet up with Randy

     
    On the McArthur River sand bar

     
    Heading over the bench to Beluga Lake

     
    A cool clear water stream dumping into the glacial silt of Beluga Lake

     
    Nice camping area at the head of Beluga Lake

     
    Randy doing a little hot dog stick whittling.  Thanks for a hot lunch Mr!

     

     
    The Fat Avid dwarfing my lil Avid on a sweet gravel bar between the Glacier and the lake.  There are some great big plane killing rocks to dodge on the way in here.  Larry, come on up with your lil tires, it will be fun getting helicopter pictures of the wreck being flown out

     

     
    Randy coming in for a little water play.  Tough to get good shots.




     
    Flying up the river and over the glacier






     
    Shots of the forest fire we have going on... good thing the fn idiots chose to not put it out when it was only 700 acres, now we are around 100,000 acres burned, the winds are picking up and houses are now being burned.... Thankfully we now have 6 water bombers and a few tankers working on it.  As of a few minutes ago the national guard showed up with a few more heli's to try and save a few homes.
     



     
    As I was tying down at the airport, this Huey was coming in to get some retardant added to the bucket of water.

     
     
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  25. RDavidson added a post in a topic Sealing the firewall?   

    Dimi3,
    That does not only look functional, but it looks cool too!
    What Helo are you building?

    Thanks,
    Ron
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