Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Bandit added a post in a topic average build time   

    I had around 500 hrs in my kit, But I built it as simple as I could.
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  2. wypaul added a post in a topic Weight and Balance   

    Randy what are your "arms" for your airplane? Mains, TW, header, baggage also your weight and pass weight.  I ran your weights with my arms and it appears that you will be fine without the added weight but the big caveat : follow the instructions in the manual measuring and weighing everything for yourself and then do your own WB.   If you purchased this plane with a WB do it again yourself. Well that is what I would do.
     
    Also the arms behind the datum will be positive and those ahead of the datum will be negative.
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  3. EDMO added a post in a topic Different wings   

    Doug,As the guru of wing info - Is the Avid speedwing rib the same on bottom as the Riblett Kitfox ribs, or is it flatter?
    EDMO
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  4. High Country added a post in a topic Different wings   

    are your spars 12' plus the wing tips? this is normal or is your complete wing root to tip 12' sounds like you may be missing one complete wing bay. might be possible that the builder had aerobat spars and built them with HH ribs not sure why you would want to shorten up the HH wing though. are you sure you don't have flat bottom speed ribs in which case you have an aerobat wing   (alum raps about 12") I'm not sure I follow this do you mean that the leading edge is wrapped in alum? I'm sure someone else more knowledgeable than I will help you on this matter. good luck
     
    -Robert-
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  5. Guest added a post in a topic Favorite pics of your plane thread   

    Here are some random pictures. I love to kayak by plane. It combines some of my favorite activities. Great fun getting to cool destinations, kayaking when I get there and great fun coming back. Another thing I really enjoy is plane camping with my girlfriend. I had my Magnum set up to carry boat, bike, camping gear, the works. My 582 MKIV could not carry the bike or as much gear, but I could still carry boat and camp solo or camp with my girlfriend dual.
     
















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  6. Guest added a post in a topic Favorite pics of your plane thread   

    I forgot how to post pictures. I've done it before here, but can't figure out how again. Any help?
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  7. Chewie added a post in a topic History of the Avid   

    Thanks for posting.
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  8. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic History of the Avid   

    (Brett Mc Kinney bought Airdale in 2007)

    Interesting to see that he feels the "group build" is what put Skystar over the edge into bankruptcy. I know a couple of those guys. Many of them lost thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars.
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  9. C5Engineer added a post in a topic History of the Avid   

    Chapter 7 added
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  10. EDMO added a post in a topic average build time   

    With factory wings, you should have a lot shorter build time.
    But beware of extreme modifications - that can drag it out forever, or at least a lot longer - believe me, I'm there!
    EDMO
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  11. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic average build time   

    Depending on your skills, I'd estimate 800-1200 hours to build.
     
    The main thing is to do something, anything - even sweep up around the project, every day.  This keeps the juices flowing and progress going.
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  12. looped added a post in a topic average build time   

    the plane is a avid mk4 with factory built wings, the previous owner didn't make much progress, I have owned a few light sport planes kolb rans s12 kitfox2 but I didn't build them, I did recover the wings on the kitfox when I replaced the wing tanks. thanks looped   
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  13. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic average build time   

    Avid?  Kitfox?  Started by previous owner?  What is your background?
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  14. no1son38 added a post in a topic Weight and Balance   

    do I have to put +1.5 and -146 in the arm to make it work  I have a mark IV with a VW engine and 297 on left and 297 on right and 55 on the tail thanks randy
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  15. looped added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    average build time
    I understand this is a hard question to answer due to all the different variables . i am wondering how long it has taken you to build your planes ,I will pick up my kit on Saturday and am wondering what a reasonable build time is for a first time builder. thanks ,looped   
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  16. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Different wings   

    I don't know about any further analysis, but that is the system in use from the IV through the current SS.


    Avid used a plywood insert.
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  17. EDMO added a post in a topic Different wings   

    Kitfox only went to the insert after the integral I-beam spars were gone. I wonder if a comparison bending analysis was ever done.
    Someone said or wrote that Dean flew the early Avid .065 spars at 1500 gw - was this without inserts?
    EDMO
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  18. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Different wings   

    Kitfox does 1550 gross with .065" spars and the same 60" long "I" beam insert as the rest of their planes. It's a landing gear change to increase the gross.
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  19. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Let's talk gear geometry   

    I'm a Harley rider and have thought of those shocks before too. They would need to be used with a bellcrank type do system to multiply their travel.

    With a Grove retrofit, the bungee truss is no longer an issue for strength. As shown in Doug's "taxiing incident" the door trusses are where the failure will occure. That is what I did the modification I did to my mangy fox project. I doubt very much I will ever to any extreme stuff that you guys out west do, but this will add a ton of strength.

    http://www.avidfoxflyers.com/index.php?/topic/709-classic-iv-restoration/?p=10266
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  20. Trackwelder added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust joint leak fixs   

    Thanks C5, Those standoffs were something I was looking for, and that engines exhaust mount is better than the system I have so thank you, I will try and be a little more civil in my posts from now on. How well does the exhaust heat work, I have a couple of old motorcycle radiators and robbed some computer fans out of junk computers for a heat set up that I was going to use. I learn more about the aircraft from the pictures you guys are sending, one picture can answer questions I hadn't thought of yet.
    I would think that there wouldn't be any problems with the mount, If you look at some OEMs and what they hang off the engine that would be about the best way to mount the exhaust, and I love the low dollar approach of the tire tread to hang the muffler with.
    http://www.aftermarketcyclepartsnation.com/Kimpex-EXHAUST-BALL-JOINT-ASSEMBLIES-detail.htm?productId=9846004#/0 this is what I was thinking you might need to replace, they do wear out
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  21. Trackwelder added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case   

    I know that you asked the question because you already have that engine, but did you get a chance to see what they are doing with the Yamaha engines over there? 118 lb fuel injection engine and little less if you get the carb models, In upper Midwest, these sleds are becoming throw aways now, the engines are still alive but we rarely get the snow that they need to keep a snowmobile alive, so they destroy the suspensions and seats but the engines are living on. I have been flipping a coin about switching engines, but I have too many projects as is, I have decided that I need priorities and my old Greyhead is going to power my plane until I get another built. Then I will look at buying the Yamaha Engine to Build, By that time I should have the discipline not to use all that horsepower.
    I think you will find that almost anything is doable, I checked over on Southern Airboats and found someone who had done your conversion, but you had better have the tools to do it yourself otherwise you would be better off buying a used engine with a good case and switch your internals.
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  22. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Different wings   

    Doesn't Just Aircraft claim up to 1500 lbs on their aircraft, they were using a .063 or .065 spar in their aircraft. Dean Wilson knows how to design an airplane, they were originally tested to a load way over the gross weight, but there is a difference between Flying and where you land, as has been stated before it is more than just the wing that makes a plane capable of handling higher loads. There has become a lot of stories on this design and some truths that have become facts, I would love to spend a day talking with the man, and I wonder if He knew the plane he designed 30 years ago would still be a major factor in aircraft today.
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  23. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Let's talk gear geometry   

    I have 2 of those Harley shocks sitting on the bench, they are heavy, and the wheel travel on a Harley is only 4 inches with the ratio included, I don't know how they would help, but I figured if we were going to talk about them, we should keep that in mind. A Softtail Harley weighs over 600 lbs depending on the model, and with passengers weighs up to 1200 lbs, and uses 2 shocks to support the load, they are designed for constant motion where we are looking for something that moves only occaissionally. Just some parameters to add to the pot,
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  24. herman pahls added a post in a topic Let's talk gear geometry   

    This discussion is driving me bonkers.
    Why, it is making points for the Grove gear mainly due to it's simplicity in spite of adding approx. 12 pounds over original gear and who knows how abusive Grove gear is going to be to the longerons and bungee truss when the going gets really rough.
    I really want Cub style gear (if it is really better than the alternatives for rock bashing) and I have spent weeks researching how to do it correctly on my Model 2 Kitfox.
    I do not like the advice I have been given.
    My Kitfox's longerons, seat-bungee truss and lower door frames need to be replaced with bigger tubing and more bracing and that is major surgery.
    And why do I want to consider all this?
    So I can Adventure fly to where airplanes were not intended to land.
    What better thing to do with an airplane that I could almost drive there faster than fly.
    My wish for Joey's thread is to come up with a gear design that requires minor surgery to the fuselage and will take much more bashing than stock gear.
    FoxDB's post #14 regarding how the compressive loads are directed towards the longerons needs to be addressed.
    Trackwelders post #8 regarding triangulating the Cabane V is right on IMO.
    A simple tube across the top of the V would help both longerons to share the loads and minimize the longeron twisting I believe.
    Notice Joey's 9th photo of the front view of a white Rans S-7 with Roberts Gear.
    The gear and cabane get bolted to their own brackets so the compressive forces do not try to twist the longerons.
    Both the Highwing and Joey's gear use the same bolt for the front gear leg and Cabane.
    This makes the install very simple since new brackets do not need to be welded on the longerons.
    This also becomes a compromise because I feel we really need bigger than 1 inch diameter front gear legs to prevent Joey's front leg collapse.
    They say tubing diameter has more to do with compressive strength than tubing thickness.
    My Kitfox brackets are 1-5/8" inside. It would be challenging to pinch down 1-1/4 tube and weld it to a slug and not exceed 1-5/8's width let alone room for the Cabane tabs to go inside the Brackets.
    John Rodgers from Homedale has a unique style cabane gear he built for his Model 4 Kitfox.
    His Cabane V if you can call it that, is welded to a reinforced seat truss and he uses 1-1/4 diameter front gear leg.
    Anyone know how John Rodgers gear works.
    Enough for now.
    I am counting on you engineers.
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  25. C5Engineer added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust joint leak fixs   

    I was talking to another Avid buddy of mine yesterday and he shared with me his exhaust mounting set up. He put two studs in to substitue the head bolts. Pretty simple set up. I think I could do something like this relatively easy. Anyone know of any issues with having something hanging off the head bolts like that? If you used a stud and properly torqued a jam nut I don't see why it wouldn't work. He has a pretty sweet muff heat set up too. It's a small world... I had a deposit on this plane once upon a time.




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