Activity Stream
Activity Stream
-
C5Engineer added a post in a topic Avid visability
I seen you mentioned Tripacers in another thread. If you can be part of a good ol boy club for your annuals they are pretty capable airplane. Like you mentioned you can get a good one for 25K. There is def a lot more hidden costs with a certified plane though...just ask Leni about his 180 parts lol
-
0
-
-
tbucket added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case
<Ask the question on www.rotaryforum.com they specialize in alternative motors>
I looked at the snowmobile motors and did a lot of research on the Arctic cat engines I liked what i seen on them the engines are produced by Suzuki the engine that I was looking at was the zr600 with the efi setup I know that they had problems with the stator on the engine that I was looking at 98 and 99 model the problem that with that motor was there was no battery in the sled every thing was ran off the stator so I did more research and got the wiring diagram for the 99 sled and saw how they got the power from the stator I am sure that I could probley change the wiring around and power the efi and everything from a battery and just use the lighting part of the stator to charge the battery I am a member of the arctic forum and have ask about the ecms I know that the efi setup that is on the 2 strokes are a speed density setup meaning they work off a preset fuel table I like this setup the problem that I seen was the high cost of the ecms I can not believe what the dealer wants for the ecms it is almost a throw away sled if it is very old because of the price of the ecm I have not given up on the arctic cat setup I could probley convert this engine to efi by using the setup from the arctic cat it would not be that hard to do my background has been in aviation until I was 45 years old then changed professions and worked in electronic repair for 10 years and then self employed 8 years .boy I am getting old quick.....lol by the way thinks for the reply I will go over to the rotory forum and ask there
thanks Bob
-
0
-
-
C5Engineer added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust joint leak fixs
Yes I've looked at a MKIV and the mount is totally different. I bought this whole FWF from John Miller from the Yahoo Group many years ago and I don't really know the history behind it. The muffler does use rubber stand off mounts to hold it to the firewall but it could flex some more. I wonder if I could retrofit that piece that hangs off the later motor mounts to make it work. Can anyone post some good pictures of it? Dean is the one that did this FWF but he's never claimed to be an engine man so I'm sure it could be done better. It's worked pretty well for 4 years and 330 hrs so I'm not too worried about it though. Since I am yanking my manifold off for a piston inspection I thought I should address it and try to make it better than it is.
Rubber Standoffs
http://www.mcmaster.com/#rubber-standoffs/=p99fwk
-
0
-
-
C5Engineer added a post in a topic Let's talk gear geometry
Herman this is just a guess but I think 3" is about right. I will take pics when I get home and diassemble it for painting. These springs will hopefully allow for at least 2" of compression. Those springs on the first version would support a loaded 185. They had no travel. The weight of the airplane didn't even make them budge. You can see in the above picture of the unpainted gear there was only about 1/16" between each wrap of the spring. It was basically fixed.
Trackwelder I have a friend that is running the air rage shock system on his S-7. It is the Roberts Gear pictured above only it was retrofitted to use the airshocks instead of bungees. I can attest that he uses them to the max extent possible. Even his own home strip is very gnarly and ALL his landings are off airport on mountaintops in Idaho. He is running 31's too but he's had good luck with it so far. He started out with a Kitfox 1 a long long time ago and this is his 2nd S-7 and he said it's built so much better for that kind of operations.
Your right about the bungee gear. I think it'll take a pretty good hit before anything bends..the weak area is the seat truss. You are correct that if you beef one thing something else is going to fail IF you prang one in. The goal is find that balance where it'll take a pretty good licking and keep on ticking. The Airdale gear is built out of 1" tube with an .049 wall I believe. HighWing LLC used 1 1/4" for the front leg but 1" the rest of the way around. The Roberts gear uses 1 1/2" and is quite a bit beefier all the way around. It requires welding on the fuse to even install it. The Highlander Gear that Steve Henry had on Yehaw 1 and 2 uses 3 legs instead of two so the Cabane has it's own set of legs.
-
0
-
-
C5Engineer added a post in a topic Yahoo Group
Trackwelder, I hope I didn't come across as snooty or anything I just don't want to see another person tear up their airplane. I can count 4 people that I personally know who have taken a brand new or rebuilt airplane out and wrecked it when their only intention was just to taxi it. Seeing my Dad laying in a pile of tubing is a memory I'll never forget. He was 100% convinced he was ready to fly. The biggest issue with these forums is there's always more to the story than most people let on. Moving on...
I attended Amelia Reid Aviation in San Jose CA. My instructor has several Stick and Rudder books published and had over 20,000 hrs in hand prop to start tail draggers. Create a profile on BackcountryPilot.org and ask if anyone from your region knows a good hole in the wall instructor. It seems the really good ones don't advertise and those guys on that site seem to really know where the good ones hide out. Your right at some point you have to cut the cord and go for it. I was scared to death during my first landing in my Avid. I was dreading it from the moment the wheels left the ground because I knew it would be the hardest part of the first flight. If at all possible fly off of grass at first it is MUCH more forgiving than pavement.
BACK ON TOPIC I'm still waiting for someone to rise to my challenge and give me something to go digging for on the Yahoo site so it doesn't get lost forever. Come on guys I'm deployed 8000 miles from home and my family and spend my evenings in a 10X10ft cell with a roomate and surrounded by sheets hanging from 550 cord and playing around online looking at tech data and your posts is what get's me through that down time each evening. Once I get home It'll be back to my normal crazy life and I wont' have nearly the time to spend on this site.
-
0
-
-
Trackwelder added a post in a topic Yahoo Group
T Bucket I am surprised that no one wants to fly a Tailwind, I have plans for the Tailwind the Cougar and the Buttercup, The Buttercup is at the same stage as the Avid, or just a little behind, I need to sandblast before I cover and complete the leading edge flaps, I am not used to riveting aluminum yet and it really is a 2 person job to skin them even just trying to run a 10 foot sheet through the English wheel is more than I can do alone anymore. With as many tailwinds as there are out there, you should be able to get someone who can fly one. Where are you flying out of that you can't find a pilot. I know that few want to teach in a taildragger, but if it is your own plane crop dusting season is over and one of those guys should be able to do it.
-
0
-
-
Trackwelder added a post in a topic Yahoo Group
I am a disabled Vet living on a pension from the railroad and a partial pension from the VA, I have about 30 hours with an instructor who was more interested in building his own time than in teaching me to fly, the other instructor teaches solely Light sport and I have 10 landings in a Kitfox, I don't worry about takeoffs, the landings are what I have always been concerned with, when I can plant a cub or a Kitfox directly on the numbers 10 out of ten times and grease in every landing three point or wheel, I feel that I have an Instructor who isn't interested in teaching, I should have gone to one of those quick learn taildragger schools, but I felt I would get a better education from someone who flew in the 15 knot crosswinds we normally have to deal with, no I don't feel like I am ready to land in Idaho at some of those backwoods strips, But I won't feel that way until after I have done it. There is a point where you have to give up on the instructor, mine was when I heard him snoring in the backseat when I was practicing landings, If he is comfortable enough to go to sleep on me I am wasting my time with him.
Since I got that out of my system, which of the taildragger schools did you attend, Riding in a car for 500 miles kills my back but at least I have enough titanium in it to hold everything in place now, If I can find someone who is willing to teach I am willing to learn, but I am not kidding about being able to land on a grass or concrete runway on the numbers or about my instructor snoring in the back seat of a sport cub for an hour while I did full stop takeoff and landings with the 15 knot crosswind, when I finally shut her down all he had to say was that the school didn't allow me to fly in that much crosswind.
-
0
-
-
herman pahls added a post in a topic Let's talk gear geometry
Joey
How much travel does the machined groove have on your spring strut before it goes metal to metal on the safety bolt?
From what I can see through the spring it only looks like 3 inches of strut travel.
Do you have any idea how many inches your tire will travel if you were to cycle your suspension without the spring in place?
I assume you are getting more travel at the wheel than the strut travels, like a dirt bike has 12" of wheel travel and the shock only travels 2.5"
-
0
-
-
Trackwelder added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust joint leak fixs
That wasn't the difference I was thinking about, but since you brought it up, mounting the exhaust to the engine would keep a lot of the movement out of the system, Bolted solid to the firewall, I can see why you are getting leaks, at least put some lord mounts in there so it can move a bit, even in a snowmobile the exhaust wasn't mounted that solid, normally they just had a spring wrapped around the canister. If I remember right Dean Wilson set up your first engine I would have him look at the pictures and get his opinion.
-
1
-
-
Trackwelder added a post in a topic Hi, I'm new to Avid Fox Flyers, looking for info and a plane
Let me throw my own 2 cents in , Since you already own a nice cross country plane, I am guessing that you don't plan on selling it, find the lightest 2 stroke Model you can find, no fancy panel cylinder head temp, exhaust temp water temp and electricity, basic flight instruments and a handheld radio, the smaller and lighter planes would take off and land shorter and can be found in the $10,000 or less range, saving a lot of money for the things you want to ad. Bigger tires different landing gear floats skis or whatever you want, If you don't want to build there are still plenty in that price range.
When you can find tri-pacers for $12,000 in annual with mid time engines why spend $40,000 on a plane that was built to perform the job of the cross country plane if you are going to trailer it.
-
0
-
-
Trackwelder added a post in a topic Need folded wing struts
Boat, if it is a model 1or 2 I will get you the measurements tomorrow, the pieces were just a 3/8 inch rod on mine and you made your own clip to hold them on the plane, I wouldn't get worried about it to much, they also make a support for the front of the front spar that runs down to the strut mount if you are going to be doing a lot of trailering, for those you can measure your own plane and make something, infact you could easily do that for the rear of the wing, You wouldn't even have to weld them to build them they are just there to keep the wings from swinging into the plane or out into the other lane.
Ed, my wife found my play money and the check came back to me, The computer decided to update itself and I can't get email
-
0
-
-
Trackwelder added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case
Ask the question on www.rotaryforum.com they specialize in alternative motors and there are several of the SeaDoo engines pictured, I don't know if the crank is any different you would have to look at bore and stroke, most aircraft engines also use cageless bearings, I am not sure if they are necessary but if the piston pin is the same size I would look into it. The first Rotax aircraft engines used a single ignition, not recommended but not impossible, the big news is in the Webr and the Yamaha snowmobile engines, for the same weight you can have 150 hp in a 4 stroke with fuel injection. Not trying to talk you out of using your engine, but if I had to do the machining I would look at those two especially the Yamaha. Most snowmobiles around here are shelled out at 3,000 miles and the first valve adjustment isn't do until 25,000 miles.
-
0
-
-
Trackwelder added a post in a topic Avid visability
Since my exhaust came from a Kit Fox, that part is not a factor at this time, Have you seen the price they want for an exhaust for a Rotax? I should probably leave it stock and just finish it, but I can't help myself with modifications t this time. I have been looking at the price of Factory made aircraft and If I could sell one of my Harleys and a couple of 4 wheelers I should have plenty to buy something, I just have never spent that much time around airplanes before I got my Certificate and am not sure what things like annuals or conditionals would cost, I am stuck between wanting the best I can Build and just wanting to Fly, any takers on the other toys?
-
0
-
-
C5Engineer added a post in a topic Yahoo Group
I travelled 500 miles and took a week of vacation to attend a highly recommended tail dragger school. I was a 150 hour Cessna pilot and thought I could jump right in a taildragger no problem. The first time I tried to take off in a 65hp Champ I was quickly put in my place. I learned FAR more in that 10 hrs of formal training in the Champ about actually flying the plane than I ever thought of in a Cessna. There would be no worse feeling than spending countless hours working on a plane to go out and tear it up your first time out. We all have that yearning and dream to fly but it's one of those things that must be done correctly. My Dad almost killed himself in an ultralight after having gotten about 15 hrs of stick time and then trying to just to go for it. There are lots of tail dragger specific and light sport schools out there willing to provide quality training but chances are your going to have reach out and go find them. Even if you get your tail dragger endorsement in something like a Cub, Champ, Citabria, Scout, etc the fundamentals will be there and will help you tremendously while transistioning to your Avid/Fox.
-
0
-
-
EDMO added a post in a topic Need folded wing struts
I will have to go look at my wings and parts, but both of mine K1 & K2, had a horizontal tube up on the VS and the struts attach there and to the rear spar attach tab - believe one was longer than the other.Whatever plane you have, you can design something that works - its not critical.
EDMO
-
0
-
-
Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic California Power Systems (CPS) sold to Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
Welcome to the forum Thomas. Do you have any questions on Avids or Kitfoxes or just like the awesome side of light aviation?
-
0
-
-
Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Need folded wing struts
Boat - What kind of plane?
These struts can be easily made from 1/2" electrical conduit. The front strut from the outer (forward) spar to the lower longeron bracket. The rear strut is only there to hold the wing in it's folded position, keeping it from banging into the tail or swinging out.
-
0
-
-
EDMO added a post in a topic Need folded wing struts
I believe there were two types of struts made - one set for the wings to tail, and another for tying the flaperons together.
These may vary by model and Brand - Post up your plane type and model.
The later manuals may only give part numbers - If my Kitfox model 1 manual will help I will check it.
I have a set somewhere for the model 1 and 2, but been a long time since I used them.
EDMO
-
0
-
-
EDMO added a post in a topic Hi, I'm new to Avid Fox Flyers, looking for info and a plane
The NSI Soob if it has the turbo, is a lot heavier than my Reductions EA-81, but also has more HP.
My Soob weighs more than the C-90 / O-200. The O-235 should be somewhere in the same weight class.
The Kitfox 5 was designed to take the "real aircraft" engines, but for STOL the Rotax cant be beat.
I extended the leading edges on my Kitfox 4.5 clone by 4 inches, and now have changed the ribs from the earlier undercambered to a modified Kitfox 4 wing to lessen the nose-down force with the heavy Soob engine.
I am hoping mine will come in about 800 empty - I cant compete with the 2-strokes for STOL, but I am used to a heavy plane in the flatlands. It takes the bumps better in the air.
SkyPirate just bought a Kitfox 5 with 912, and said it weighed 760 empty, and was cruising at 115, but did not say how much throttle - guessing whatever % is cruise?
If you want light weight and STOL, the earlier models will do that well.
If you want x-country speed with long runways, then go for the later models, but you will spend more.
One last thought: If you ever have to fly without a medical, then your plane has to be not more than 1320 gross to qualify as an LSA.
Hope this helps a little.
EDMO
-
0
-
-
tbucket added a post in a topic Yahoo Group
I have heard about these horror story's before it is not only where you live but it is all over I don't have my private but threw the years I have flown with other pilots and took lessons from an instructor I have not flown at the controls for a few years I have a nesmith cougar [tailwind] that is ready to fly and I can't find anyone that can fly it..It has 40 hours on it and from the logbooks it flew very well I am rebuilding an avid so I can fly I am sure that I can find someone in the chapter that can get me through the pilot part with this airplane I have heard that some of the instructors around here will take their time before they will sign you off but sometimes I think that they are a little too picky. years ago when I was taking lessons I was with this one instructor,he was a good instructor and flew acrobatics and was quiet good at it but one day after a few hours of training we were turning on a point I though that I was doing good but he got after me pretty good because the tree I was lined up on was not the tree he wanted me to line up and then when we would come in for a landing he would always want me to land on the numbers and I had enough and said to him I am not interested in landing on the numbers all I want to do is know that I can land this airplane I can always crash on the numbers.....at that time in my life I wanted to be sure I could get the plane on the ground without crashing. The landing on the numbers would come later when I had the confidence I could land.......
Bob
-
0
-
-
tbucket added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case
[i used a spare mod 90 case]
I don't think I am going to have much trouble or too much cost involved with this engine I did not find anybody that is using the engine that I picked I have done a lot searching about this engine and comparing parts for different rotax engines the engine that I bought was a 1989 sea doo [rotax] 587 engine it is a provision 8 case it has the starter on the engine with a flywheel it is the yellow motor that is in the sea doo jetskis I have cked the horse power of the engine is 56 horsepower@ 5,750 rpm in stock form [1 carb and 5.9 compression] the mads that I have researched is a different rotary valve shaft from a 582,583,617 rotax because the the 587 has no impeller for the water pump a different head to bring the compresion up and for the water outlet ad different rotor valve cover for the 2 carbs and maybe the crank from a 582 or a 583 I know this sounds like a lot of work but I think it will be worth it I will have a new engine with a electric starter that is mounted to the block and the coils and everything is mounted inside the cover I bought this engine from an individual that his son wrecked the sea doo for $150.00 it is a complete motor nothing missing..... so I think I can spend a little money and come out ahead..... what do you think?
Bob
-
0
-
-
akflyerbob added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case
No snow yet .. still in the high 40's
I used a spare mod 90 case to get the measurements for machining the
582 snow machine case front to mount the gearbox after threading the 8 holes
Also, since the snow machine 582 is a single ignition, the rotary oil tube, upper, has
to be rerouted to clear the coil mount plate and oil pump.
I'm not sure the hole process is worth it as you have to have the rest of the parts from a
mod 90/99 to complete the motor anyway
-
0
-
-
tbucket added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case
Thanks akflyerbob for the reply did you have to do anything to the case like milling the front surface so the gearbox fits flat? I have never owned a c box before so i don't know what it looks like on the mounting end. you mention that you have done this on a original type 90 case did you have any drawings for this that I could look at? by the way I just saw where you are located is it cold and snow there today?
thanks Bob
-
0
-
-
herman pahls added a post in a topic Avid visability
I have been flying my Kitfox for 18 years and have managed with the round cowl visability.
I powered my Kitfox with a Jabiru for a few years and used the Skyfox cowl that is similar to the Avid cowl in that it was 2-3 inches lower on the windscreen.
The Jabiru did not meet my high altitude and short field needs but a really appreciated the added visability the Jabiru cowl offered.
Good question regarding the thrust line.
I am not sure the Avid upside down 582 installation (spark plugs down) changes the thrust line much from a Kitfox 582 spark plugs up installation.
The Avid installation places the prop flange as the high point of the engine installation allowing for a lower cowl and the Kitfox has the prop flange several inches below the spark plugs.
Another advantage of the Avid 582 installation is that the 582 exhaust does not need to be modified to fit in the cowl and produces a few more HP than the Kitfox 582 installation.
-
0
-
-
akflyerbob added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case
The front (power end) is not machined to accept the gear box.
I've done several of these cases to the measurements of an original type 90 case
and assembled them but have yet to fly one.
-
0
-