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Activity Stream



  1. Avidventurous added a post in a topic Fatal In An Avid   

    You might be right.
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  2. maier05 added a post in a topic Kitfox model 1   

    Hope everyone is doing good. I was able get back at the airplane the otherday, before I went back to work. Getting ready to add engine, so I can start some wiring. Just a question before hanging it, is there an special way the rubber bushings go? 
     

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  3. sndye117 added a post in a topic Another broken flaperon hanger   

    With careful preparation, having all the rivet holes pre-drilled, pieces cut, sanded, and cleaned up, and everything clamped in place (so I knew it would all fit correctly once glued), the gluing process went pretty smoothly. Of course I was basically fighting cure time the whole way, with the epoxy starting out very runny and dripping everywhere but cleaning up nicely, to the last one being thick and sticky, easy to pack in and fillet around corners but just smearing everywhere when trying to clean it up. It took me 3 rounds of mixing epoxy to get all 8 of them done. I drove the rivets while the epoxy was still wet, and then clamped the "scabs" over the new spliced in rib tails with more epoxy as the last step. Not much else to say about it, the pictures speak for themselves.


    Before glue:

    After glue:

    The next day after everything was good and dry, I drilled holes for a screw on each side of the "scab" and bolted them tight, to prevent them from ever peeling away from the rib in the future.

    Overall I was very happy with how they turned out. Very strong!!
    Next step, stitching up the fabric....
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  4. chopndrag added a post in a topic Float molds for sale   

    They would probably work for all kinds of planes but figure try here first 
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  5. sndye117 added a post in a topic Another broken flaperon hanger   

    All of the aluminum stiffeners I pre-made ended up having to be trimmed down to fit correctly. In hindsight, I would have made the bent flange 0.3 inches shorter and left out the cap strip holes (for the -3 rivets) so that I could have just match drilled through everything after it was glued up, but I worked with what I had. I did not want to remake all those stiffeners again! This pattern should work well for a Kit Fox though, and can be easily modified for any Avid, so I'll attach it at the end of this post along with the DXF.
    Another thing, the Kit Fox rib tails all have a slight taper down to the flaperon attach holes, whereas the Avid's are straight. I ended up preferring the added strength of the tapered skag, so I kept it that way on all the stiffeners and just had to cut the notch deeper into the bottom capstrip. The root of the rib ends up being visible further along the underside of the wing, but I didn't think it was very noticeable.

    For the rib tails that seemed to be intact, I cut and sanded off all the fiberglass and sanded them down to clean wood, making sure there was no dry-rot. Then I trimmed the bottom capstrip notch to allow room for the stiffeners to be inserted. Because the Avid's rib tails were not tapered, but the stiffeners were, I could not use the pre-drilled rivet holes along the bottom edge, so I drilled new ones through both stiffener and existing rib tail. See the picture below with the rivets inserted but not driven.

    Next step, gluing!
    rib tail stiffener.pdf
    rib stiffener.DXF
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  6. sndye117 added a post in a topic Another broken flaperon hanger   

    After cleaning the fabric and peeling it back I warmed the epoxy holding the capstrips with a heat gun and used a razor to cut through and release them from the rib joint. I used aluminum foil to keep the heat off the wing fabric as much as possible during this process. It was a pretty delicate balance of applying enough heat to release the epoxy without darkening/burning the wood. I found it better to just go slow, apply some heat while pushing the razor along the capstrip, letting it cool off, then continue with more heat.
    I then used a hacksaw blade to cut about a 45 deg notch 10 or 11 inches up the rib, removing the old broken rib tail. Using that as a template, I cut out a matching replacement and sanded in to fit snug in the notch. I also made two scabs to cover the seam on each side of the rib. All of this, with the two aluminum stiffeners, cut from 2024 T3C - .025, were positioned in place and clamped, making small adjustments until the tip of the new rib tail was centered on a string that I tied from the outboard rib tail to the most inboard rib tail, such that all the rib tails would be in alignment. This was done on all the broken and/or rotted rib tails, 3 of them in my case.




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  7. sndye117 added a post in a topic Another broken flaperon hanger   

    Update:
    I've made some good progress over the last month. I ended up making a CAD drawing of the stiffeners shown in the Denney Aerocraft Service Bulletin #9, and had 20 of them waterjet, bent, and primed. However since I have an Avid Flyer Model C, I knew I'd have to modify them somewhat to make them work for the slightly different rib tail design. But still, it significantly sped up the process having all these parts made in advanced. I was then able to borrow a friends hangar to do the repair and started the long and painful process of opening up the wing at each rib tail.

    I started out by stripping off the paint and silver down to the fabric with MEK on all but three of the rib tails. Loosening the glue with more MEK and peeling back the tape, and surgically cutting a line down the top and bottom of the wing fabric. I typically only had to cut 2 or 3 rib stitches to gain enough access to the rib.

    The broken flaperon hanger with evident dry-rot. What I believe caused this was the fiberglass wrapping that the previous owner had put on all the hangars trying to reinforce them without having to open up the wing... Over time, water seeped into parts of the fiberglass that were cracking or hadn't been sealed up very well, then was trapped inside the fiberglass shell that now surrounded the original wooden rib tail.
    Let this be a warning to all Avid/Kit Fox owners: DO NOT WRAP YOUR FLAPERON HANGERS WITH FIBERGLASS! (unless you do a professional job of vacuum sealing during the curing process, moisture WILL get in and compromise the strength of your hangers.
    I ended up leaving 1 hanger on each wing that appeared to be well sealed with fiberglass and gave no sign of reduced strength. The remaining 8 have now all been reinforced or replaced.

    More dry-rot found on two of the right wing hangers. I cut them out and spliced in new 3/16" plywood tails. I'll show more pictures in the next post.
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  8. marksires added a post in a topic Float molds for sale   

    Given I haven't had any nibbles on my floats, I'd guess not proceeding was a wise business decision!
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  9. chopndrag added a post in a topic Float molds for sale   

    i was going to make them as a side business but have no time for it that is why i am selling the molds .
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  10. AvidJack added a topic in Kitfox IV   

    Landing gear step.. Avid or Kitfox better?
    Back to building, ready to cover the gear legs, on the speedster, but...
    The "angle welded to the Legs for this purpose" (page LG-H-1) to attach the step in the KF IV tubular gear doesn't exist.  If I'm going to be modifying gear legs, I'm kinda leaning towards the avid "post" step, as easier to use, and adding more protection to the pants for passenger use.  I've had both in the past, but the KF 2 I had was slow enough that I never put the pants on, so always stepped on the tire.. instead of the step.  Mostly the same for the Avid MK 4
    Rather than weld directly to the gear leg(s), I'll do whichever on a 1" id sleeve over the existing tubing.  I don't want to compromise the existing tubing, not that I plan to prang it in, but, well, I may loan it to someone who..
     
    Opinions?
     
    Thanks,
    -Jack
    Austin Texas
    • 1 reply
    • 538 views


  11. marksires added a post in a topic Float molds for sale   

    If you want floats, I have a set of genuine Avid floats for sale, only a couple of hours away....
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  12. chopndrag added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Float molds for sale
    I have molds for fiberglass floats I was going to make but have no time for . They are packed away but can get pictures.  This is what they would look like . Taking offers


    • 4 replies
    • 468 views


  13. nlappos added a post in a topic Fatal In An Avid   

    Engine failure after takeoff?  https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2023/06/24/1-dead-1-injured-after-small-plane-crashes-into-northern-lake-michigan/
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  14. Avidventurous added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Fatal In An Avid
    I just heard about an avid going down in Michigan. Evidently the passenger drowned but the pilot escaped. Heard abut it on Dan Gryder's channel. Time count 37:25
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1At1wG0RM
     
    Damn.
    • 2 replies
    • 388 views


  15. luca1s added a post in a topic A project with limited time - setting realistic expectations?   

    I saw that, seems interesting! I don't know much/anything about the kit though, I'd assume it'd be harder to build than a standard Avid or Kitfox though right? 
    By the way, does anyone know of anyone in Maine (or New England in general) who owns an Avid or older Kitfox? I figure it'd be worth flying one (or at least looking at one in person) before starting anything!
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  16. Avidventurous added a post in a topic Avid with a Volkswagen   

    Those 92mm pistons with a stock stroke of 69mm makes an 1835cc. That configuration was very popular with the bug crowd years ago. When I built my bug I used 90.5 for 1755cc. The outside dimension is the same as 92 so I have thicker cylinder walls.
    There are tons of hot rod parts for VW out there but most of them make the horsepower at higher RPM which won't work well for a plane without a reduction unit.
    Keep us posted.
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  17. Avidventurous added a post in a topic A project with limited time - setting realistic expectations?   

    https://www.barnstormers.com/cat_search.php?headline=&body=&part_num=&mfg=&model=&user__profile__company=&user__last_name=&user__first_name=&user__profile__country=&specialcase__state=&user__profile__city=&user__profile__uzip=&specialcase__phone=&user__email=&my_cats__name=&price__gte=&price__lte=&keyword=avid+flyer&search_type=keyword
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  18. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Avid Flyer MK IV for sale   

    Old pilots probably realize your hands in the air waving around meant it was trimmed out to almost fly itself but they did it different in 1932:    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hpJEbSNSMuU
     
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  19. meglin added a post in a topic WTB Warpdrive 66" LH 2 blade prop and HP hub   

    It's no big deal. Everything is still ahead of us :).  Especially after you appreciate the value for money.
     

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  20. luca1s added a post in a topic A project with limited time - setting realistic expectations?   

    I don't have a kit yet, which definitely makes this feel like a pipe dream already. I'd be looking for an older, uncompleted project or an older flying or stored aircraft (say a Model 1/2 with a 532/503) which is a tough find regardless. My main question is whether it's even worth trying to find one, even if I miraculously found an airplane, how much could I really do in the time that I have. 
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  21. 109jb added a post in a topic A project with limited time - setting realistic expectations?   

    Do you already have the kit?  If not and you are thinking about ordering a new kit, you won't even get it before next April.  Unless you already have a line on an available kit you would also be hard pressed to find an uncompleted project even.
     
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  22. luca1s added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    A project with limited time - setting realistic expectations?
    Hello everyone!
    I've just discovered that there is a small chance that I receive some (but still limited) funding from my school next year towards a Kitfox/Avid project, which would then likely be presented at the state science fair. It's very far from a guarantee, but if there's any chance of that happening, I'd definitely like to have an idea of what I could accomplish in a very limited timeframe and whether it's even worth exploring. 
    Realistically, I'd have until April 2024 (might be able to stretch it to late May) to finish the project, which is not much time at all. I'm also a completely new builder, with no experience with experimental airplanes whatsoever. I do have experience with power tools of course, and some basic welding knowledge, but aside from that, very little! I have friends at the airport who do build/rebuild airplanes, but none have worked with a Kitfox or Avid before. This is all to say, I'll need to learn a lot and that doing anything will probably take longer than usual!
    With all that in mind though, how much do you guys think I could realistically accomplish in the time that I have (September -> April)? My initial thought would be to start with a flying airplane (maybe a Model 1 or older Avid to keep costs down) and upgrade the engine/panel, but even that might be too much. Essentially, the main question is whether such a project is even worth trying considering with the constraints I have?
    • 23 replies
    • 1,450 views


  23. MattK added a post in a topic Good one   

    So a newlywed couple window shopping in New York comes upon a store front full of clocks.  Having a need for a clock at their new home, the two enter the store and behind the counter, find a man dressed in orthodox Jewish garb.  They ask him if he could show them some mantel clocks.  The man says, "I'm sorry, I have no clocks to sell". The perplexed couple responds, "but you have all these clocks the window".  The man responds, "I'm a mohel, what would you have me put in in the window?  
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  24. luca1s added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Kitfox IV w/ 912 on Barnstormers
    https://www.barnstormers.com/classified-1832508-Kitfox-IV.html
    Just saw this Kitfox IV w/ 912 UL on Barnstormers, thought I'd pass it on in case anyone was interested! I don't know anything about the aircraft aside from what's posted on the listing, but the price ($35K) seems good for a flying airplane. 
    • 0 replies
    • 339 views


  25. Dolfin added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Wanted: Bing 54 carbs
    Would like 2 Bing 54 carb’s for parts. Mainly the carb pistons, part # 963-679
    They are damaged from the idler adjustment screw.
    Thanks!

    • 0 replies
    • 209 views